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Discovery of a dead body in the Acute Admissions Unit
This tragic incident, on 6th May, was reported in national newspapers as the death of a hospital in-patient. In fact the young man discharged himself from the AAU against medical advice on 2nd May and returned on 6th May, where he is believed to have killed himself. The Trust has been cleared of any blame. However, visitors now have to sign in and state who they are visiting.
Infections
The Trust had 13 MRSA bacteraemia cases in 2008-09, well below its target of 21 cases. It was also well under target for clostridium difficile, with 63 cases against a target of 183, but 12 cases were reported in April – nearly all in different wards. Everyone is very relieved that there were no cases in the first two weeks of May.
Patient experience issues
The Trust has 15 hand-held devices, called Patient Experience Trackers, which collect answers to questions about patient satisfaction, currently about information, communication, staff behaviours, hospital admission and hospital discharge. Weekly reports are displayed on charts in the wards, for staff and patients to see.
The Trust has also engaged in both local and national surveys which show that patients are happier now than they were a year ago with respect to length of time waiting for admission, discharge information, hospital cleanliness and food.
Around 400 project patients have received a “My Hospital Discharge” leaflet, completed on discharge by the nursing staff, which gives information about medication and who to contact if help is needed at home, followed within 48 hours by a call from PALS enquiring about the patient’s stay in hospital. This has led to very useful feedback for improvements in the hospital.
Foundation Trust application
The Board is in the process of sending welcome packs to its foundation trust members, including valuable concessions from a variety of sponsors eg AA, Which? and many others, also a fabric bag and pencil printed with material promoting the Trust.
Taking of blood samples at Watford General
Whilst welcoming a 50% reduction in blood collection errors, a question from the public asked if staff were over-stretched and improvements planned, noting reports of up to 40 patients waiting, with some having to leave without being seen. The Medical Director, Dr Graham Ramsey, stated that he was unaware of such problems but he promised to investigate.
Joan Davis
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