WIREDGOV

The Health Minister Mark Drakeford has applauded the development of a package to improve the dignity of adult patients across Wales.

Launching the All Wales Continence Bundle yesterday in the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, the Minister said:

“In the aftermath of practices highlighted by the Frances Report, it is vitally important for the NHS in Wales to reassure patients that they are getting the best possible care.

“The All Wales Fundamentals of Care Audit shines a light on areas where improvement is needed, and enables us to work on those improvements, as seen by the development of the All Wales Continence Bundle.

“The continence bundle will now be rolled out across the country and will form part of the everyday care Welsh patients deserve.”

The Older People Commissioner’s report ‘Dignified Care?’, published in March 2011, echoed findings in the All Wales Fundamentals of Care Audit of the same year.

Both showed that there was more that health boards and trusts need to do to meet patients’ requirements in relation to continence and toileting.

The All Wales Continence Bundle provides nurses with tools to support the improvement of the patient experience and dignity in care. It includes assessment tools to identify immediate needs and the need for support in the longer term, an audit tool to measure how well staff are responding to patient needs and a questionnaire to be used to get feedback about patient experience.

Its development was commissioned by Prof Jean White, the Chief Nursing Officer for Wales. It was co-ordinated by the Free to Lead Free to Care initiative and a multidisciplinary sub group chaired by Ruth Walker, Executive Director of Nursing, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.

Ruth Walker said:

“When patients come into hospital, it is vital that we treat them with dignity and respect.

“This package is aimed at providing the right care for those patients who are admitted and who have continence issues.  It will also enable us to identify patients whose continence issues were not previously known to professionals and offer them support.

“It will enable all nurses in Wales to assess the continence needs of their patients, audit the care provided and offer patients the opportunity to give us feedback.”