Patient Experience and Involvement

Brand-new patient information boards are being installed in our inpatient areas, replacing the old white 'behind the bed' boards.

They have been co-created with colleagues, patients and carers to support patient-centred care and were a huge hit with colleagues during the pilot.

Newly qualified Nursing Associate, James Morley, pictured below, tells us more about how the boards supported him and his colleagues in caring for patients in Coronary Care, one of the pilot wards.

He said: “As soon as I saw the new boards I realised we could have so more information to support the care we give. Things like eating habits, nutrition and hydration, allergies, falls and risks, to the things our patients enjoy or that they want to talk about (or not). The current behind the bed boards basically give the name of the patient, consultant and nurse, but there isn’t space for a lot more information.

“Using the board immediately gave me a much better rapport with my patients, which is really important, especially if you’ve just come onto shift. I could look at the patient’s board without necessarily having to look on a computer to find out their information. It’s especially important to be able to strike up a conversation with our dementia patients as an example to get to know more about the person behind the patient. Simple things like being able to write their preferred name will help so much.

“I truly believe we can give better patient-centred care with the new boards."

Other elements on the board include reasonable adjustments and where patients have a hospital passport, as well as the Martha’s Rule questions we ask patients each day, which act as a prompt to update our electronic patient records.

The boards can be moved with the patient too as they are secured by velcro, and they can be amended at any time.

Senior Nurse, Vicki Drummond, said: “We know that unpaid carers can’t always be by the bedside. Their feedback during the pilot was that they have much more confidence in the care we’re giving to their loved ones as they’ve been able to write everything that’s important on the board.

“It’s not for everybody. Patients who are only with us for a couple of days, or our younger patients, may not be as concerned with adding their information.

"It’s important for us to remember that use of the boards is always completely the patient’s choice."

The boards will be slightly different in adult inpatient areas and children's areas. 

We are seeking volunteers to join our Trust to strengthen how we can hear and use your feedback.  These volunteers will be known as Experts by Experience, as we recognise how important working in partnership with patients, carers and members of the public is, to helping us make changes which improve the care everyone receives from us.

As a volunteer Expert by Experience, you will be supported to play a vital role in helping us understand how it feels to access our services, or to care for someone who does, and to ensure that the voice of patients, carers or service users is represented and heard at the Trust.

We also have volunteers who work with our patient safety team, known as Patient Safety Partners. Their focus is particularly on activities which improve patient safety.

To learn more about the difference you can make within the role of an Expert by Experience or Patient Safety Partner please see more below, including a message from our Chief Nurse, Lindsay Rudge about the roles.

You can also contact the Patient Experience Team via email: PatientExperience@cht.nhs.uk for more information.

Be the voice for patients and service users across Calderdale and Huddersfield.

What is an Expert by Experience?

People sharing their experience and knowledge with us here at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT) are often called Experts by Experience.  As a volunteer Expert by Experience, you will be supported to play a vital role in helping us understand how it feels to access our services, or to care for someone who does, and to ensure that the voice of patients, carers or service users is represented and heard.

As a volunteer, out of pocket expenses will be paid in line with Trust policies.

Do I need any experience?

You may have experience as a patient, carer, care partner or member of the public. We ask that your knowledge and experience of using the services at the Trust is within the last five years. It is essential that you can put forward the views of all our patients across our communities, and not only your own opinion.

What is expected?

Experts by Experience can volunteer to become involved in various tasks and programmes of work, and for a flexible number of hours. There will be opportunities to work with us at one of our sites, as well as remotely by Microsoft Teams or, for example, by reviewing information and sharing their thoughts.

Some ways in which Experts by Experience can support the Trust include:

• Working within specific groups and committees to ensure the voice of the patient/carer is heard
• Sharing their lived experience to support learning and development
• Supporting the staff recruitment process
• Helping to design patient pathways or services
• Getting involved in quality issues and improving standards

What can we offer you?

• Training and induction to help you to fulfil your role
• Provide a mentor/buddy who will support you and a named contact at the Trust for any queries or support
• An opportunity to develop new skills
• An opportunity to help improve the experience and quality of care provided at CHFT

For further information please contact: patientexperience@cht.nhs.uk  or our Matron for Patient Experience on 07825 054 782.

You can also register your interest using this form https://forms.office.com/e/rJPzLhnQ0B and a member of the team will be in touch.

Be the voice for patients, carers or care partners across Calderdale and Huddersfield.

What is a Patient Safety Partner?

A Patient Safety Partner (PSP) supports activities to improve patient safety at Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trust (CHFT). PSPs represent the voice of the patient, ensuring they are at the heart of everything we do, by challenging us when things go wrong and helping us to make improvements.

PSPs can be patients, carers or care partners. All we ask is that your experience of using our services or being a loved one or a carer for a patient, is within the last five years.

This is a voluntary role, but out of pocket travel expenses will be reimbursed.

Do I need any experience?

Other than having recent experience of using our services as either a patient, carer, or a care partner, no experience in this role is necessary. We do ask that you have a genuine desire to support patient safety and improvement at CHFT. We are especially keen to include people who have an awareness of the experiences and perspectives of our communities. For example, people who have difficulty accessing health services due to disability, financial difficulties, or health conditions.

What is expected of PSPs?

• Attending meetings and committees relating to patient safety, challenging our thinking in a constructive and positive way
• Involvement in patient safety training for our staff
• Speaking to patients, their carers and families to ensure the patient voice is heard
• Engaging with the wider community and/or groups of patients
• Participating in investigation oversight groups
• Involvement in patient safety improvement projects
• Commit to approximately 8-10 hours a month. We aim to be as flexible as possible

What can we offer you?

• Provide training and induction to enable you to fulfil your role
• Provide a mentor/buddy who will support you and have regular meetings with you
• Offer regular peer support meetings

For further information contact Sharon Cundy, Head of Quality and Patient Safety on 07285 460 078. Or email patientexperience@cht.nhs.uk

You can also register your interest through this form https://forms.office.com/e/rJPzLhnQ0B and one of the team will be in touch.