InFocus Magazine 2007 - Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

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10 Haematology Nurse Practitioner - Loraine Lloyd What’s your job description? My remit is to improve outcomes for haematology patients in line with the recently published NICE guidance ‘Improving outcomes in Haematological Cancers.’ [2003]. One of the key features of my role is to simply ‘be there’ to provide information, advice and support for all patients with a haematological condition, from their initial visit to see the haematologist and then throughout their cancer treatment. So how do you achieve this? All patients, and their relatives or carers, are encouraged to phone or call in and see me if they have any worries or concerns related to their disease or treatment. As a nurse practitioner much of my working day is spent undertaking clinical procedures. I perform most of the bone marrow procedures, venesections and specialist PICC [peripherally inserted central venous catheter] line insertions. I also provide support, leadership and education to other healthcare professionals, including our community-based nurses. Behind the scenes, I help facilitate change, develop new services and set evidence-based standards, policies and protocols with colleagues. As a senior nurse within the Haematology team I can help to focus clinical decision-making on the needs, values and priorities of individual patients, giving them a voice where it counts. How has your role improved the service? Setting up nurse-led clinics to handle most of the procedures means that patients can now choose a date and time convenient for them to come in. The new PICC line insertion service has dramatically improved the patient’s experience and outcome. Patients no longer have to go to theatre or radiology but can stay on the ward for this much less invasive procedure. Removal of the line is relatively quick and painless, and the lines are associated with a far lower complication rate, reduced chance of infection and lower expense. What do you most enjoy about your role? I am passionate about nursing research and audit as a means of improving the patient’s experience. In July 2007 I won Basingstoke and North Hampshire NHS Foundation Trust ‘Researcher of the year’ prize for research into the pain experienced by patients during their bone marrow procedure. My study looked at how we could help to reduce the pain experienced by our patients when they were having this diagnostic test performed. As a result of the study patients are now offered an innovative way to help relieve the pain they experience during this procedure. Instant x-rays save time and money Since purchasing PACS – our Picture Archive Computer System, for digital x-rays – and all the work it involved to set up, our investment has been more than repaid. Today doctors can view x-rays before their patient has walked back from the department. Every single x-ray image is stored safely and is easy to access (no more film archives). The new system has saved all the expenses of processing, printing and transporting x-ray images. Even more importantly, it has supported us to reduce waiting lists. We don’t know how we ever managed without it!
11 Increasing the chemotherapy capacity More beds, better treatment options, and more hours of care: after a thorough assessment of the Basing Unit, we’ve made some changes to improve the patient experience. With improved chemotherapy drugs, more patients are being offered chemotherapy as a treatment option. As a result we had to assess the capacity in the Unit, making sure that patients get enough time with nursing staff and – equally important – that staff aren’t overworked. We’ve also reviewed the booking and administrative processes to make them more efficient, as well as increasing bed capacity and keeping a bed free every day for unplanned inpatients. This is just one example of where we have reviewed our processes to give patients a quicker, more efficient route from diagnosis to discharge. Questions, comments, or complaints? PALS is the patient advice and liaison service. It’s available to: Help resolve concerns Provide information You can contact PALS: At Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital Tel: 01256 486766 / Email: pals@bnhft.nhs.uk FIRVALE, our respite unit for children with special needs, is a warm and friendly place where parents and children interact, get out and about and generally have a great time! Children with special needs require long-term, permanent care solutions, and Firvale is the perfect way for children to receive special attention and learn social skills at the same time. Staff members from the unit liaise with families, school and healthcare professionals to ensure the best care and continuity at all times. Gaining confidence and independence is an important part of Firvale, so the older children often go on organised trips to the cinema, bowling, seaside and the Watercress Line - always lots of fun. During the summer holidays we organised trips to Longleat, Chessington and Paultons Park. For younger children, Firvale hosts ‘Treetots’ – a mother and toddler group for ages 0-5. This weekly group allows families to meet and discuss issues around their special needs. Firvale - our respite unit for children
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InFocus Magazine 2007 - Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

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