Safer Staffing in Elderly Care Wards: Supporting Staff to Improve Quality and Patient Experience Claire Boothroyd, Senior Sister Gate 41 Ross Fletcher, Matron, Elderly Care Lisa Elliot, Senior Consultant, CRTHealth

Recruitment and Retention Harms Safer staffing project Staff Morale CRT Health Improvement Staff Involvement Situation.

BACKGROUND – STAFF FEELINGS ‘I come to work expecting it (staffing) to go wrong.’ Staff Nurse ‘I come to work expecting it (staffing) to go wrong.’ Staff Nurse ‘When we ask for information nurses often don’t know much about the patient, especially personal details, so we have to rely on whatever is documented.’ Physiotherapist ‘I feel guilty every day because I can’t do the best for my patients’ Sister ‘I feel guilty every day because I can’t do the best for my patients’ Sister ‘I wouldn’t expect to see a nurse on the ward round, they just wouldn’t have the time.’ Junior doctor ‘I often cry on my way home because I feel so bad about work.’ Healthcare assistant ‘I often cry on my way home because I feel so bad about work.’ Healthcare assistant

BACKGROUND- PATIENTS FEELINGS

ASSESSMENT

RESULTS ‘MY patients at a glance’ whiteboard: updated by MDT in real time and used to support board rounds am and pm

RESULTS- BEFORE CHANGES Addressing medication safety through small changes Cupboard doors always open – taking up space Cluttered work surface space Very small but busy

RESULTS- AFTER CHANGES 1) Remove cupboard doors & rearrange stock 2) Move drug trolleys for access to sink 3) Rearranged work surface & improve medication deliveries

RESULTS SAFE CARING RESPONSIVE EFFECTIVE WELL LED

RESULTS – STAFF FEEDBACK ‘Yesterday was the best day I’ve had in this job. I was excited to come back to work’ Staff Nurse ‘Yesterday I actually managed to get on a ward round and it made such a difference.’ Charge Nurse ‘When I do my ward round normally, almost every patient needs something, like a drink or the toilet. Actually when I think about it that hasn’t happened today’ Consultant ‘A man’s wife rang to see how he was and I not only knew the answer without having to check, but I even had time to take the phone to him so they could speak to each other’ Ward Manager ‘I actually felt good on my way home from work and I told my husband it was the best day for months and months’ Health Care

SEE FOR YOURSELF………