Emma shares this latest news from the Earl Mountbatten Hospice. Ed
A senior member of staff at Earl Mountbatten Hospice is using her experience and expertise to advise other hospices across the country on managing and preventing falls among their patients.
Becky McGregor, the hospice’s Head of Clinical Quality and Patient Experience, is a member of the National Quality Advisory Group of Hospice UK, an umbrella organisation which supports the work of more than 200 members including Earl Mountbatten Hospice.
Thanks to the work of the advisory group, Hospice UK has just published an updated version of a template which all hospices can use to manage and prevent falls in their inpatient units.
National and international standards
The original guidance had been published in 2012, and the aim of refreshing the advice has been to make sure it is consistent with national and international standards, relevant in all areas of hospice care (including at home and in care homes), and as user friendly as possible.
The toolkit can be adapted and used to support each individual patient and includes links to national guidance.
Broader services
Becky is one of the four authors who worked together to develop the toolkit, which is now available for other hospices to download from the ‘Clinical Resources’ section of the Hospice UK website. Becky said:
“The work of hospices is now much broader than just providing services on a traditional ward. Modern hospice care is also about caring for people in the community, whether that’s in their own home or a residential care home, and here on the Island we support around 600 people at any one time in their own environment.
“Therefore, it’s really important that we update guidance to reflect the changes to the way we provide care.”
Becky added,
“We hope this revised toolkit will prove a useful resource to help all hospices to manage this important area of care.”
