January 2012 - Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals

SWBTB (1/12) 275 (a)
Increasing the hours available to Ward Managers to lead would:
Improve standards
Improve patient experience
Improve knowledge of patient/relative views, complaints handling etc
Improve risk processes
Improve rostering and staff management
Improve operational processes, eg discharge planning
The paper is due for further Executive Team discussion later this month.
3.5 Clinical Documentation
New bedside and nursing records have been developed in response to nurses advising us
that they spend too much time on paperwork. This view has been reflected nationally via
CQC reports, RCN, and DH releases on nursing in recent months.
The new documentation is anticipated to:
Reduce the amount of charts at the bedside and reduce duplication of charting at
the bedside
Enables relatives/patients to contribute to bedside charts
Streamlines all assessment processes into simple documentation that is led by a
series of prompts
Includes ‘intentional round’ – supports David Cameron announcement regarding
hourly nursing visits to patients.
Reduces the number and frequency of audits
So far the new documentation has been well received.
4) Workforce Developments in Nursing
HCA Young Apprentices
The first 10 have been appointed and have settled really well into their roles and into their
ward. Ward Managers report high satisfaction rates with performance etc.
Advantages:
Concerns:
Brings young people into the workforce.
Saves approximately £5k per head from ward establishments.
Ensures robust competency based training of HCA’s.
Young people in workplace.
Unable to work some shifts due to Young Worker regulations.
Attitude towards them from other staff.
Nursing MOT
Yearly requirement for all Band 5 nurses to undertake. Refresher on all basics of nursing
care including numeracy and literacy testing. Seeking an e‐delivery solution via NHS learning
networks. So far approximately 1000 nurses have attended.
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