09.05.13
‘Right patient, right bed’ launched by RCP
A new toolkit has been launched to improve recognition and care of seriously ill patients. The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) recommends that those admitted as emergencies should only transfer out of an acute medical unit to a ward area that has facilities to meet their clinical needs.
The toolkit calls for the NHS to introduce the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) to rapidly identify patients who are severely ill and require more enhanced care. The score can be used as an initial assessment, track patients progress and trigger an escalation in medical and nursing care.
Dr Rhid Dowdle, lead author for the toolkit, said: “One of the major drivers for this toolkit was the identification of shortcomings in the care of seriously unwell medical patients by the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD). I hope the recommendations we have made will, if implemented, improve the care of this vulnerable group of patients.”
Dr Mark Temple, RCP acute care fellow and toolkit series lead, said: “The early recognition of the patient who is deteriorating or at risk of deterioration, provides the best opportunity to intervene rapidly and effectively.
“Acute care toolkit 6 focuses on the use of the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) to detect changes in the severity of a patient's illness and links this to a series of actions by nurses and doctors to escalate care. The toolkit deals with best practice in the management of acutely ill patients throughout the hospital and is fundamental to improving patient outcomes and saving lives.”
Dr Chris Roseveare, Society for Acute Medicine president, said: “I am delighted that we are able to launch this key document at the Society for Acute Medicine spring conference this week. Ensuring that seriously unwell patients receive prompt, safe care should be a top priority for all staff working on the acute medical unit. The toolkit highlights the importance of early recognition, followed by rapid, senior review for this high risk group of patients; this will be a key message from the three speakers at our opening symposium today.
“It is crucial to ensure that such patients are managed in the most appropriate ward setting, by staff with the skills to provide this care. Many acute medical units already provide such facilities, and the next generation of acute medicine consultants will all undergo a formal period of critical care training to ensure that these skills are embedded into the AMU team.”
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