Barnsley Dignity

MOUNT VERNON HOSPITAL BARNSLEY

Dignity in Action Day

February 25th 2010

To mark National Dignity in Action Day Mount Vernon Hospital held a series of events. These included—

•A member of staff from each ward being a patient for the day

•Poster display

•A raffle

•Activities organised for patients

•Promoting the Dignity Challenge

•What does dignity mean to you?

•Free refreshments during afternoon visiting and the opportunity for patients and visitors to discuss or write down their views.

The theme of the day was ‘dignity is everyone’s business’ and everyone was encouraged to be involved.

A poster display was erected close to the main entrance; the posters varied from pictorial to informative and covered a wide range of aspects relating to dignity. The display was viewed by patients, public and staff and remained in position for almost 2 weeks.

During the day 2 members of staff walked around the hospital and explained the dignity challenge to patients, public and staff. A total of 90 people signed up to the 10 principles of the Dignity Challenge and received Department of Health Dignity in Care cards.

Patients on the wards had the opportunity to join in activities facilitated by staff, this included prize bingo, quizzes and games.

Visitors were offered free refreshments and asked to complete a short questionnaire .The following feedback was received [both from visitors and patients]—

•In one word was does dignity mean to you?

The most common response was Repect; other responses were good hygiene, cleanliness, tidiness, privacy, pride,

•What do you think we do well?

Everything, try to make people comfortable, care, well looked after, good food, most things, understanding, [most of these responses were repeated more than once.

•What do you think we don’t do well and could improve?

Staffing levels, people often wait to go to the loo, for me dignity is about not wetting your self; this could often be avoided if the response time was quicker.

Loo response

Quicker to respond to patients needs i.e. toilet, shouldn’t have to wait too long

Visiting areas could be improved x2

More physiotherapy x2

Nothing

10 completed forms were returned.

A flip chart was also available for people to write down ‘what does dignity mean to you?’

3 staff were allocated to be a patient for the day, one member of staff on each ward. The staff were a ward sister a staff nurse and a HCA, they were each given a different scenario e.g. Aphasic, poor eye sight, dependent for transfers etc.and were asked to give feedback, and although all 3 had felt some apprehension initially they all agreed that it had been a worthwhile exercise.

Did staff find out your preferred name before speaking to you?

Yes

Were you given a choice where to sit in the lounge and dining room?

Yes there was only one space left.

Were you given a choice of food and drink?

Yes

Did anything make you feel uncomfortable?

Being fed by staff

Asking for toilet and having to wait

Sitting in a black chair waiting for ward round was very uncomfortable

and boring.

What went well?

Seeing things from patients view

Interaction with patients

Well treat by staff

All staff polite and patient

What didn’t?

Availability of staff

Ward very busy

Wanted toilet but had to wait as all staff busy, but didn’t wait long and

apologies were given, also explanation.

Being a patient on your own ward

When ward busy not being able to see staff when you are in the day room.

How did you feel?

Waiting by bed for Dr seemed to be a long time and was boring. Day went very

slowly, patients could do with some stimulating activities.

Bored if you don’t watch TV their isn’t much else to do.

Frustrated, isolated, bored, and agitated.

Would you change anything in practice?

Thinking about what is said and who is listening

Activity co-coordinator-possible volunteer basis

Patients to interact with other patients and not to sit with same ones all the

time.

Increase number of staff in relation to patients’ dependencies and not

numbers

In one word what does dignity mean to you?

Respect, choice, valued

What do you think we do well?

Choices and independence

Respect all patients wishes where possible- i.e. patients not always able to sit

in place of their choice in either dining room or lounge all patients treat as

individuals according to their needs.

Any comments?

Although an artificial situation a good insight into the life of a patient in a

hospital setting

Improve confidentiality i.e. during ward round.

The day was a success, Dignity is everyone’s business and should be part of everything we do, the aim of the event was to raise awareness of Dignity in Care, and through patient, public and staff involvement this was achieved.

The day was reported in NHS Barnsley News and discussed at ward meetings.

Actions taken as a result of Dignity Day

We identified that patients were spending periods of time with little or no interaction with staff, as staff were elsewhere attending to other patients or other ward duties.

There was a probability that patients felt that a greater period of time had passed than was actually true, due to inactivity. This could lead to patients attempting to mobilise unsafely or not being able to request assistance in a timely manner.

Therefore, to improve patient satisfaction and safety, we have introduced an extra flexible member of staff to our rota. This member of staff is taken from the existing staffing establishment and is able to provide activities i.e. craftwork, discussions, etc.depending on the needs of the patients at that time. Additionally if patients are in the lounge area and needing frequent intervention i.e. toileting, observations. they are able to ensure this is achieved.

This change has received positive feedback from both patients and staff, and hopefully will also show a reduction in falls.

Ongoing good practice

All staff complete the ‘Workbook Focus on Dignity in Health and Social Care’

Patient survey includes questions relating to dignity

Involvement in Essence of Care Dignity and Respect Group

Dignity Champions on each ward

Carol Nayeri

Assistant Modern Matron

Mount Vernon Hospital

Barnsley

S Yorks