Taree to hear about Garling Inquiry progress
31 May 2010
Community members and staff from Manning Hospital will today (Monday) meet with senior representatives from Hunter New England Health to discuss the progress achieved by the Area as part of Caring Together: The Health Action Plan for NSW.
The Caring Together Health Action Plan was developed in response to the recommendations made by Mr Peter Garling SC, following his Inquiry into Acute Care Services in NSW public hospitals in November 2008.
Doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, support and non-clinical staff, management and community representatives are expected to attend today’s Forum, with an opportunity for participants to ask questions about the Area’s progress in implementing Stage 1 and 2 recommendations.
Chief Executive Dr Nigel Lyons will be attending today and will be available for media interviews.
Dr Lyons said a number of recommendations had been implemented by HNE Health during the past 18 months, with consultation forums proving enormously valuable in shaping the Area Health Service’s response to Caring Together.
“It's important that feedback is canvassed from right across our Area, which is why we have held Caring Together Forums in Maitland, Gunnedah, Glen Innes, Manilla and Singleton so far in 2010, with more Forums being planned for the rest of the year,” Dr Lyons said.
“Staff across our metropolitan and rural centres should have equal opportunity to give consideration to the issues raised, and to provide feedback about the Area’s direction and response.”
A number of initiatives have been implemented within Hunter New England Health as a result of Caring Together recommendations, including improvements to out-of-hospital care, the development of clinical resources such as a standardised Emergency Department Checklist and patient observation chart, and improving staff identification for the benefit of patients.
“Caring Together provides a number of long-term recommendations that will gradually be implemented by Hunter New England Health to ensure they deliver genuine, sustainable improvements to both clinical care, and the way in which care is delivered,” Dr Lyons said.
“We’ve also initiated a number of immediate changes to demonstrate our commitment to improving patient care.”
Two Manning Hospital staff members will also present during today’s Forum:
Mikala Five, Nurse Unit Manager Level 4 Medical Ward, Manning Hospital
Essentials of Care Program
Nursing teams at Manning Hospital have been using tools from the Essentials of Care program to help improve relationships and interactions between staff and with patients. Their hard work has reaped a range of benefits, particularly around reducing falls and lengths of stay for patients. But the real key to their success has been the willingness of all staff to support each other; managers regularly take-on patient care in the wards, which in turn frees up staff to work on the practical elements of the Essentials of Care program and other Caring Together initiatives.
Jo Varley, Aged Care Clinical Nurse Consultant, Manning Hospital
Advanced Care Planning and Aged Care Assessments
In line with Caring Together recommendation six, all staff at Manning Hospital and its Aged Care Service now use a standardised assessment tool for elderly inpatients. The form is used as soon as an elderly patient enters the Emergency Department, then follows them into the ward and/or rehabilitation unit, before also being used when the patient goes back into the community. This makes their transition care as smooth as possible. Staff have also developed a system of encouraging Advance Care Planning ‘champions’ within their teams, which supports Caring Together recommendation seven.
Media note: The Forum will take place in the Taree Community Health Centre Education Room, TODAY, Monday 31 May from 12.30pm to 1.30pm. Chief Executive Dr Nigel Lyons will be attending and is available for media interviews.
(HNE-2280)
Contact: Carisa Green
Phone: 0428 106 183