A G E N D A 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Ian Metcalfe 2 ...

Board of Directors Part 114 June 2013Managing aggressive, demented and confused patients can be verydifficultSlow chain of response for sick patients – medicallyGetting hold of equipment can be hard – role of portersWhat are the aspects of night working you find most beneficial orpositive?Being in charge, taking more responsibility, using initiativeMore time to talk to patients, read notes, paperwork and admin, canoffer more care and be compassionateMore time for social careHome life suits night workingBetter team working – like a family7.3.6 What are the food options available at night?Lack of food and meals at night is a universal and strongly held complaint.Nearly all the staff said the current situation is very poor and the two thatdid not answer “no” did so as they usually brought in their own food andaccepted this as the status quo.There is no hot food available as the canteen is closed. Vending machinesare found only outside the restaurant and are generally stocked with junkfood. Sandwiches are said to be stale.The vending machines are also too far away from staff in the oppositewing. When they are very busy they do not have time to walk there andback. Staff can heat food in microwaves on the ward if they bring their ownfood but sometimes these don’t work. Being able to buy plated food fromthe canteen before it closes in order to reheat it later would be an option.Vending machines with good food are needed in both hospital wings.There are also complaints that there is not always a place to take a break.Not all wards have a quiet space nearby to relax in and there are notenough breaks within the long, twelve-hour shifts (currently just one onehourbreak).7.3.7 Name three things that would improve night working on thiswardThere were lots of suggestions, many of which re-iterated some of thecomments above. Below is a short list of common of requests in noparticular order.More staff - HCAs mostly but trained nurses on AMU and perhapsthe CSTQuicker and easier access to doctors13The Hospital at NightQuality/Performance