Training tool to tackle bed-blocking as NHS staff encouraged to ask ‘Why not home? Why not today?’
In a bid to reduce hospital delays for patients, with a particular focus on the elderly, NHS England and Health Education England have launched a new e-learning tool for health service and care staff.
Designed to take clinical health and social care staff through a range of online resources, the ActNow e-learning tool will train individuals at every level to take action to help people get home from hospital sooner or prevent admission altogether, says the NHS.
In particular, the resources will cover the use of new technology, effective early discharge planning and caring for people at home.
According to NHS England, nearly 350,000 patients currently spend over three weeks in acute hospitals each year, leading to severe problems of bed blocking.
In January 2019, NHS England figures revealed there were 137,436 delayed transfer of care incidences between November 2017 and November 2018, with almost 89,500 being acute and nearly 48,000 being non-acute.
Of the overall 137,436 cases, 41,246 incidences were attributable to social care whilst more than double – 85,045 – were attributable to NHS trusts.
Many of those are older people who are often frail says the NHS, emphasising that while short periods of treatment in hospital are sometimes necessary, staying too long can leave them vulnerable to infections or deconditioning.
Hilary Garratt, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer for England said: “We want to ensure that all patients benefit from the shortest possible stay on a ward, getting home as soon as they are fit to leave with the support they need.
“Not only is that better for them, reducing the risk of infection or loss of mobility for older people in particular, but it also means that more beds are available for others who need care too, easing pressure on A&E and other parts of the system.”
Alongside focusing on preventing delayed transfer of care incidences, the tool also has an added CPD benefit for staff, points out the NHS, as completing the online course can be used as evidence of continued professional development and ongoing learning.
“This new ActNow resource will help nursing and care teams in the vital role they play throughout a patient’s journey, and are ideal to include as part of team training or for professional development plans for nurses at every level, including our non-registered colleagues,” added Hilary.
The tool comes as NHS doctors, nurses and other staff are also being encouraged to ask ‘Why not home? Why not today?’ when planning care for patients recovering from an operation or illness as part of the ‘Where Best Next?‘ campaign.
The campaign, which aims to annually spare 140,000 people of a hospital stay of three weeks or more, and the ActNow tool are being rolled out nationwide as part of the NHS Long Term Plan.
https://thiis.co.uk/training-tool-to-tackle-bed-blocking-as-nhs-staff-encouraged-to-ask-why-not-home-why-not-today/https://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/BHTA-bed-blocking.jpghttps://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/BHTA-bed-blocking-150x150.jpgNewsroomNHSSector NewsActNow,acute care,bed blocking,CPD,delayed transfer of care,e-learning tool,Health Education England,hospital,NHS England,NHS Trusts,training,Where Best NextIn a bid to reduce hospital delays for patients, with a particular focus on the elderly, NHS England and Health Education England have launched a new e-learning tool for health service and care staff. Designed to take clinical health and social care staff through a range of online resources, the...Calvin BarnettCalvin Barnettcalvin.barnett@bhta.comAuthorTHIIS Magazine