DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
News Release (2007/0315) issued by The Government News Network on 1
November 2007
A new set of
benchmarks, in the Essence of Care series, which will help nurses
and other health and social care staff improve the care
environment - such as the hospital ward, a patient's bed, or
a GP practice - was launched today by Chief Nursing Officer,
Christine Beasley.
Speaking at this year's Chief Nursing Officer conference,
she outlined the latest benchmarks that will help people have
confidence that the care environment meets their individual needs
and preferences.
The new benchmarks, focuses on important aspects of the care
environment - such as ease of access, how well maintained it is,
cleanliness and tidiness, personal space, visible precautions for
controlling infection, as well as the culture of wards and
clinical areas.
Chief Nursing Officer Christine Beasley said:
"The Essence of Care programme is unique in that it combines
the elements that are important to patients with actions that
professionals can take to make real improvements in the
environment they create for patients. The overall toolkit helps
share best practice among the entire nursing team and maintain
high standards."
Sheena Taylor, Senior Nurse for Clinical Standards and
Governance, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust:
"This demonstrates excellent opportunity for patients,
users and healthcare providers to come together and set meaningful
standards for the care environment."
Iris Fitzgibbon, Matron General Medicine, Royal Wolverhampton
Hospital NHS Trust:
"It is reassuring when our professional expectations are not
far removed from the user perspective. Working with users in the
development of this benchmark just reinforces the fact we are all
committed to raising the standards for patients."
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Over 170 individual and organisational responses were received
in the consultation.
2. The 10 areas covered by the Essence of Care series are
Communication, Continence, Hygiene, Nutrition, Pressure ulcers,
Privacy and dignity, Record-keeping, Safety, Self-care and
Promoting health.
3. The Healthcare Commission is incorporating the Essence of Care
into it's own monitoring of NHS trusts.
4. The 'red tray' scheme which highlights those
patients who need special help with diet and nutrition was a idea
generated by nurses using the Essence of Care system.