Royal Surrey County Hospital
The Royal Surrey County Hospital is a leading General Hospital and specialist tertiary centre for cancer, Oral and Maxillo-facial surgery and pathology. The hospital serves a population of 320,000 for emergency and general hospital services and is the lead specialist centre for cancer patients in Surrey, West Sussex and Hampshire, serving a population of 1.2 million.
- Updated:
- 8 December 2016
- Location:
- South East
- Sectors:
- Health, Hospitals and Hospital Trusts
- Local Alliances:
- Hampshire Dementia Action Alliance, Surrey Dementia Action Alliance
1. Action Plan
1. The National Dementia Declaration lists seven outcomes that the DAA are seeking to achieve for people with dementia and their carers. How would you describe your organisation’s role in delivering better outcomes for people with dementia and their carers?
The Royal Surrey County Hospital is committed to providing and delivering a compassionate and dignified approach to caring for dementia patients and their carers throughout their stay/visit to our hospital. The work that is being undertaken in the hospital around dementia overlaps with the objectives outlined by the National Dementia Strategy in 2009 and the Quality outcomes for people with dementia in 2010.
The Royal Surrey County Hospital has an internal work-plan that identifies key initiatives that we are currently working on to improve / enhance the experience of the person living with dementia and their carer. A few examples of our key initiatives are:-
Working towards becoming a dementia friendly hospital. We are constantly updating and changing our hospital environment to make it dementia friendly. Any changes made are in line with PLACE requirements and the Kings fund enhancing the healing environment recommendations. Over the past couple of years three of our ward areas have also gained the Quality Mark.
Education and training of our patient facing staff.
Carer support. The RSCH has signed upto and embraces the principles underpinning Johns Campaign (2015). The RSCH implemented a Carer Passport for Family members in 2013 and this document is in use accross the hospital. The carer passport for family members is an initiative that aims to support carers whilst their loved one is staying in hospital. In September 2015 we welcomed a carer support worker to our team on the Older persons unit. The carer support worker provides advice and support not only to carers but also staff accross the hospital. During 2015 the RSCH has worked closely with the CCG to implement the carer prescription accross the hospital (The carer prescription enables staff to support carers they come into contact with by referring them electronically to a range of support services accross Surrey). The Dementia Specialist Nurse also provides carer support to carers and obtains feedback regarding the person living with dementia and their carers experience of their stay in our hospital. This information is then fedback to our hospital board on a quarterly basis. In 2016 we are planning on instigating a carer cafe in the RSCH.
Ensuring that the care provided is patient centred. The RSCH uses a forget me not symbol to identify patients with dementia / delirium and confusion. The document "This is me my care passport" is also used accross the hospital and supports staff in providing care that is individualised and patient centred.
2. What are the challenges to delivering these outcomes from the perspective of your organisation?
Patients with dementia often present to the acute hospital with complex medical and social care needs. Some examples of the challenges we face as an organisation can be attributed to internal and external priorities / constraints placed on the hospital for example financial, staffing levels and releasing staff for training and patient activity and volume (including seasonal volume).
Member website
www.royalsurrey.nhs.uk/2. Actions
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Staff Education and training
Training for all staff within the Royal Surrey County Hospital (both patient and non patient facing)
- Status:
- Being implemented
2015 - Fourth Quarter Update
The RSCH provides a variety of tiered dementia training to staff (both patient facing and non patient facing) accross the hospital on a regular basis.
-
Supporting carers
Supporting and signposting carers to the correct services (both internal and community) during their stay in hospital
- Status:
- Being implemented
2015 - Fourth Quarter Update
The RSCH has signed upto and embraces the principles underpinning Johns Campaign (2015). The RSCH implemented a Carer Passport for Family members in 2013 and this document is in use accross the hospital. The carer passport for family members is an initiative that aims to support carers whilst their loved one is staying in hospital. In September 2015 we welcomed a carer support worker to our team on the Older persons unit. The carer support worker provides advice and support not only to carers but also staff accross the hospital. During 2015 the RSCH has worked closely with the CCG to implement the carer prescription accross the hospital (The carer prescription enables staff to support carers they come into contact with by referring them electronically to a range of support services accross Surrey). The Dementia Specialist Nurse also provides carer support to carers and obtains feedback regarding the person living with dementia and their carers experience of their stay in our hospital. This information is then fedback to our hospital board on a quarterly basis. In 2016 we are planning on instigating a carer cafe in the RSCH.
-
Patient centred care
Ensuring all care is compassionate, dignified and patient centred
- Status:
- Being implemented
2015 - Fourth Quarter Update
The RSCH uses a forget me not symbol to identify patients with dementia / delirium and confusion. The document "This is me my care passport" is also used accross the hospital and supports staff in providing care that is individualised and patient centred.
-
Becoming a dementia friendly hospital
Looking at environmental changes to improve the patient and carer experience.
- Status:
- Being implemented
2015 - Fourth Quarter Update
We are constantly updating and changing our hospital environment to make it dementia friendly. Any changes made are in line with PLACE requirements and the Kings fund enhancing the healing environment recommendations. Over the past couple of years three of our ward areas have also gained the Quality Mark.
-
The provision of a variety of age appropriate activities for patients on the ward.
The provision of age appropriate activities for patients to use during their stay in hospital.
- Status:
- Being implemented
2015 - Fourth Quarter Update
In May 2015 the Dementia Specialist Nurse distributed twenty five activity boxes to wards and departments accross the RSCH. The activity boxes contain a variety of age appropriate activities for patients to use during their stay in hospital.
In May 2015 numerous activity volunteers, started volunteering on a regular basis on two elderly care wards and an orthopaedic ward at the RSCH. The activity volunteers enhance the patients experience by engaging with patients therapeutically and undertaking a variety of activities that are patient centred.