Heartbeat: May 2019

High standards in critical care
services lead to outstanding rating
As some members of the critical care
services team first got a glimpse of the
initial report following an inspection by
the Care Quality Commission (CQC) last
September, ‘powerful’ was one word
that came to mind.
We met up with Amber Markham who
explained more. She said: “When CQC
visited the service we were in the midst
of a very busy period. And to read
their perception of the service as being
outstanding in the caring and well led
domain was truly humbling and a testament
to a service that functions completely as one
team across Sandwell and City hospitals.
“We are so proud to have achieved this as
a team. Everyone in the service does their
bit every day to deliver high quality care. We
hope that this rating reassures our patients
that they are getting the best possible care.”
The latest CQC rating was a culmination of
hard work that has taken place over some
years since the service was rated ‘good’ in
2015.
Amber said: “Following that inspection
we made a few changes including revising
the nursing care plan and incorporating
target ranges for prescriptions. Having all
colleagues in the team working cross site
also helped with standardisation to the way
The critical care team are full of pride at being
rated outstanding by the CQC
we deliver our care.”
Clear communication is essential in getting
the critical care team working in harmony.
Amber agreed: “Communications is vital in
how we do our work. It is important that all
team members are aware of what is going
on and what our priorities are. There are
safety briefings twice a day which set the
standards for the communications for the
day. All colleagues can contribute to ward
rounds and our multidisciplinary meetings.
We also encourage the sharing of positive
outcomes as well as learning from what has
gone wrong.”
Critical care services have a multidisciplinary
meeting twice a week which also looks
at long term care planning for patients.
A follow up service puts in place plans
to get patients off ventilators, discharge
SURGICAL SERVICES
planning, speech and language therapy,
physiotherapy, early vocalisation and
swallowing assessments. There is a team
of nurses who are part of the outreach
team who visit wards and support
colleagues with deteriorating patients.
They help avert or expedite admissions for
patients.
Amber added: “We also support patients
and families by keeping a diary which is
inputted by members of the team and
family members so that patients can have
a record of what has happened while
they are in our care.
“Reducing length of stay is part of our
next steps,” said Amber. We have set up
a CQC working party including medics,
nurses, physios, speech and language
therapists and dietetics which is looking
at how we can continue to improve.
“We also have a patient forum that
meets every three months. It is made
up of patients and their families and the
feedback gained is useful in helping us to
continue to enhance the service that we
provide.”
It’s time to talk about Dying Matters
During Dying Matters Week our
palliative care team held a number
of events to raise awareness about
death and how important it was to
talk about it.
During an open day at the Heart of
Sandwell Day Hospice, visitors were
invited to meet colleagues and patients
who attend the venue which is based at
Rowley Regis Hospital.
Terry Capecci, Palliative Care Nurse,
spoke to Heartbeat about why it was so
important for patients, colleagues and
visitors to be aware about issues around
death and talk about the subject.
She said: “We held an open day at the
hospice as we wanted people to come
and see what we do here and also what
our patients get up to.
“We usually have a group of patients
who come in at around 10am until
2.30pm. During that time, we carry
out creative, art and complementary
therapies, and hold group discussions.
Our occupational therapist comes along
and holds regular talks, and we also have
Terry Capecci, Palliative Care Nurse, at the
Heart of Sandwell Day Hospice
group discussions.
“We play a particular game called Jengo,
which involves patients picking up blocks
that have either a word or sentence on it
that will trigger a discussion. We have some
wonderful reminiscing as a result.”
Terry added: “Dying Matters Week is very
important as we do need to raise the issue of
dying – something people don’t often want
to talk about. It is important for families
to talk about dying, particularly with the
patients that we see at the hospice. We
PRIMARY CARE, COMMUNITIES
AND THERAPIES
open discussions about future wishes
such as will writing, and advanced care
planning.”
Other events that took place during
the week beginning 13 May included a
funeral planning session, palliative care
showcase, and a café style discussion for
colleagues around death.
Dr Anna Lock, Palliative Medicine
Consultant, added: “Dying Matters Week
is a great time to start having those
conversations you've been meaning to
have with friends, family and patients
about what matters to them.
“During this week we're dispelling
some of the myths about death and
dying to help colleagues, public and our
community understand the care and
support available as well as what they
can do themselves to be prepared such as
writing a will, talking to their loved ones
about their funeral and care wishes.”
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