Collaboration launched to safeguard the lives of care home residents
An initiative to safeguard the lives of care home residents and reduce the impact on ambulance services, particularly during periods of winter pressure, has received the backing of Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething. The break through project, developed in partnership with the National Collaborative Commissioning Unit, Welsh Ambulance and Mangar Health received funding from the winter pressures support package announced by the Welsh Government last December. Building on recommendations in the Mills, S & Whitehead, R (2018) Amber Review, the project recognises that patients that have called for an ambulance to attend and are allocated an amber category often end up waiting too long for an ambulance, resulting in a negative impact on long term health. An uninjured fallen resident living in a care home will routinely be allocated as an Amber category by the ambulance service, which can result in long wait times and have the associated health implications. Concern around this practice has been growing as leaving a resident on the floor for more than an hour is associated with complications such hypothermia, pressure areas and kidney failure. (ROSPA 2017). A key recommendation from the Amber Review proposes; “the longest waits for patients in the community must reduce.” More than 10,000 residents living in care homes in Wales will fall every year and often traditional manual handling policies restrict the options care staff have for lifting. It is common for care homes to rely on a paramedic to perform the lift, even though more than 45% of fallers will be uninjured. The new Wales Care Home project is designed to create better outcomes for residents through safeguard and the education of staff and the use of appropriate lifting equipment. The initiative empowers care staff to apply post fall management protocols, including the introduction of health assessment techniques used by paramedics. Care Homes across Wales have received a Mangar Camel Lifting Cushion, specifically selected because it delivers a safe, secure lift for residents and protects the carer performing the lift from injury. In addition, care homes have been taught the consequences of leaving a resident on the floor for long periods of time while waiting for an ambulance to attend and when it is appropriate to call for an ambulance, contact their GP or ring 101. Falls account for more than 10% of all ambulance call outs and an early project evaluation has seen care homes report an 80% reduction in decisions to call an ambulance within the first month of receiving the support package. Simon Claridge, CEO at Powys based Mangar Health says, “This project is a perfect example of how public and private sector organisations can work together to achieve better healthcare outcomes for vulnerable people relying on healthcare services in Wales. “Mangar Health’s lifting equipment has been used by Ambulance Services across the UK since 2006 and by drawing on our experience in both the ambulance and care home sector we have been able to develop a package of support that will bring considerable benefit to both.” For more information and articles such as the safeguard of care home residents click here
Leicester’s Hospitals begin search for nurses to work with their older patients
The search for nurses is on. The University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust are looking for enthusiastic Band 5 nurses to work in Medicine for Older People across two separate city hospital sites. Sue Burton, Head of Nursing in Medicine for Older People at Leicester’s Hospitals has been working in nursing for over 20 years and is responsible for 17 Speciality Medicine Wards and a number of specialist nurses and outpatient areas. Sue says, “We are on the search for nurses who are passionate about looking after our older patients. They need to be motivated and great communicators. Working with older people is a very rewarding area of nursing and we believe Leicester is a fantastic place to start a career as we can give nurses the experience of treating a range of different conditions and the opportunity to learn many different skills. It will allow them to get a feel for what they enjoy and how they wish to progress their career. “We support our nurses with a large team who take on tasks that don’t need to be done by a registered nurse, for example, we have housekeepers, specialist facilitators to work with dementia patients, co-ordinators responsible for discharging patients and volunteers. This means our nurses can focus on providing patients with dedicated nursing care.” Sue highlights that Leicester’s Hospitals have good education links with local universities and provide great training and education support to enable nurses to progress their careers, Sue has completed a Batchelor of Science degree, a post-graduate diploma and a Masters degree while working at the Trust. Another attraction of the role is that all nursing staff working on medical wards receive a 7% premium on top of their salary. Leicester’s Hospitals are part of a major new recruitment campaign – called Y/Our Future – working in partnership with Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, LOROS Hospice, Rutland County Council and Leicester City Council to attract greater numbers of health and social care professionals to live and work in Leicestershire and Rutland. Justine Wood is a Ward Sister in Medicine for Older People at the Leicester Royal Infirmary. She began her career in the NHS 15 years ago as a domestic assistant and soon realised her passion lay in nursing. Justine trained for her nursing qualifications through the Trust and was keen to be a surgical nurse until her last placement in medicine at the Royal Infirmary changed her mind. Justine says, “I enjoy the fast pace and exciting cases I work on in Medicine and I find it very rewarding working with older people. To send a recovered patient back home to their wife of 60 years who then continues to lead a full and active life is extremely fulfilling. It is hard work, but very satisfying to finish a shift and know you’ve made a difference to someone’s life. “I’m proud to work with a wonderful team and we receive lots of praise and lovely feedback from appreciative patients and their families, which spurs me on. The staff at the Trust are very supportive and there are many learning opportunities for all nurses of different stages – I’ve gained a vast amount of experience and I am currently working towards my degree. “As long as you are prepared to work hard, you’ll go far here. For anyone considering becoming a nurse working with older people I would say, don’t hesitate – come and join us!” For information on the search for nurses, the vacancies available and to apply for the role: https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/?vac_ref=915508145
Borough Care Appoints New Area Managers
Borough Care has appointed Chrisi Williams and Geraldine Blow as new Area Managers. Borough Care is the largest not-for-profit provider of care for older people in Stockport and has eleven homes across the borough. As Area Managers, Chrisi and Geraldine will support the Managers at each of Borough Care’s homes, to develop a culture of continuous improvement. Making sure Borough Care’s homes continue to provide a safe, harmonious environment for residents, and support their physical and emotional wellbeing, will be a critical part of the job. Chrisi and Geraldine will also ensure Borough Care’s homes meet regulatory and contractual compliance requirements. Commenting on what attracted her to Borough Care, Chrisi Williams says: “Having previously inspected some of Borough Care’s homes, I knew the company’s ethos and values of compassion, aspiration and respect matched my own. Borough Care is committed to providing the highest quality of care to its residents. As a not-for-profit organisation, Borough Care reinvests any surplus money into the services it offers; serving the best interests of residents and their families, which is something I support.” Geraldine Blow has first-hand experience of Borough Care’s service, as her mother has been a resident in a Borough Care home for the past five years. Geraldine says: “As a Care Quality Commission Inspector, I inspected some of Borough Care’s homes and was so impressed with the standard of individualised care given to people that when my mother needed care we, as a family, chose for her to live in one of the homes.” Like Chrisi, Geraldine believes Borough Care’s values are in line with her own. Geraldine says: “I, like Borough Care, believe everyone should be encouraged and supported to live their best possible life, whatever their age, health or capabilities. People should receive the highest standard of care, provided by kind, compassionate and well trained staff, and I am looking forward to playing my part in delivering this at Borough Care.” Chrisi and Geraldine both previously worked as Inspectors for the Care Quality Commission and both live in Stockport. For more information about Borough Care and their area managers click here
