Traditional Nursing Values Improve Patient Care At Dorset County Hospital, England

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 24 Nov 2008 - 3:00 PST

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A RETURN to traditional nursing values has further enhanced patient care at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Dorchester, winning praise from NHS bosses at the South West Strategic Health Authority.

The hospital, recently rated 'excellent' for its quality of services, is following a new national NHS programme that emphasises old-fashioned nursing.

Releasing Time to Care -The Productive Ward, is a national initiative focusing on improving ward processes and environments to help nurses and therapists spend more time on patient care to improve safety and efficiency. In simple terms, nurses work together to declutter their wards so they can spend as much time as possible caring for patients.

The Strategic Health Authority is so pleased with the results that it has declared Dorset County to be a gold standard example and is encouraging staff from other hospitals to visit and see how the scheme works.

As a Foundation Trust, Dorset County Hospital prides itself on making quicker and smarter decisions that directly benefit patients. The Productive Ward initiative shows the Trust in action, working with staff to improve their working environment and patient care.

Matron Gail Volney explains: 'It's essentially a return to the traditional values of nursing and "sister says". It's simple, easy to understand and the difference it makes is massive.

'It's brought the team together and made then feel valued. They take pride in the ward and their work and that is good news for patients.'

Deputy Sister Diane Hill agrees. She works on Abbotsbury Ward, which was the first to implement the initiative.

'It's fantastic. The ward is calmer and quieter, the information we give to patients is clearer and many of the older patients say it is a return to how things used to be."

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Dorchester