Tuesday, 30 December 2014
View from the frontline, by an A&E Senior Sister
Article in the guardian about New Year's Eve, well written and tells it like it really is.
Tuesday, 23 December 2014
Crunch weekend
Apparently this weekend is crunch time for A&E departments. They are apparently expecting significant attendances. If we get that it would make this Christmas different to all the others. Normally the Christmas week is a low point in numbers, with a peak on New Year's Eve.
Friday, 19 December 2014
The worst week on record
Last week was the worst week on record for A&E, for the number of admissions and trolley waits.
And we are not in winter yet.
Tuesday, 16 December 2014
Extra winter funding
The government has released £700 million for winter this year, and while locally there has been some initiatives it's small compared to what is required. The system is beyond creaking, and can't continue at this pace for the next 3 months until spring.
Department intranet and policies
Patients in A&E present with a wide range of conditions, and departments often have pathways to support decision making of junior staff.
The problem with this being on paper is locating the most recent version, updates can easily be lost and the wrong care is then followed.
Having a paper copy does help, in the event of a complete computer crash, however that should not be the main resource.
A single department website which has all the forms on it and gets updated as required means everyone is always using the most ip to date clinical advice.
The continuing political minefield
CQC reports published today show a difference between the two A&E departments run by Imperial college Healthcare NHS trust.
This has led to further questions by local MPs on the closure plans at charing cross hospital.
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/health/mp-in-call-to-shelve-closure-plan-for-ae-department-at-charing-cross-9927999.html
Monday, 15 December 2014
Yet another week, situation no change
Yet another week and an article about pressures in ED. This one is West Midlands, but the story is the same across the country
Wednesday, 10 December 2014
CQC ratings for Croyden
CQC have published their findings into patient satisfaction at Croyden hospital, formally known as the Mayday.
Tuesday, 9 December 2014
Locum use in A&E
This story from the BBC focuses on doctors and filling their shifts, but a similar story is present in nursing. As a speciality it is not attractive enough on either a financial or work life balance basis.
Thursday, 4 December 2014
The ED morale story
Combining with the increases in pressure, there is the staff side story. Too many experienced ED doctors and nursing staff are leaving, mostly to go over seas where they will be supported and better paid. Maybe it's time pay not only reflected the unsocial hours part of your job but also the stress levels. I run an ED but get paid the same as the nurse who runs out patients. The clinical stress levels are significantly different, even if more patients are seen in out patients, they are generally not critically unwell.
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