5th September 2011 - 'Pack a bag' project takes next step

A pilot project to encourage care homes to pack a bag for residents who may be admitted to Airedale Hospital in an emergency is being expanded.

The trial scheme, which has been running for several months between Beanlands Nursing Home in Glusburn and the hospital at Steeton, has improved the dignity and care of older patients by making sure they have a change of clothes for discharge, should they be admitted to hospital.

In the next phase, 15 nursing and care homes* from across Bradford, Airedale and Craven (including Beanlands) will now be using the new STEP (Seamless Transfer of Every Person) scheme.  

Fiona Throp, senior nurse for older people at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, says: “When someone falls or suffers a heart attack, the main priority is to get them emergency medical help as quickly as possible.  If these emergencies are at night, patients are often taken to hospital in their nightwear. Once they have been treated in hospital, patients may be able to go back to the care home in a few days but still have only their nightwear to travel in.  Even if blankets are provided, people often feel uncomfortable travelling in their pyjamas or nightdresses so this is where some extra clothing can make all the difference.”

When the hospital looked at where patients were being admitted from, a number were from local care homes.  They often did not have a relative close by who could call in and visit them in hospital with a change of clothes.

Airedale Hospital and Beanlands Nursing Home staff worked together on the project to develop a better emergency admissions process and trialled a number of different circumstances.  They found that the best way to provide extra clothes was to have male and female bags ready packed in the care home with appropriate clothing and toiletries.  Personal items for individual patients were then added at the last minute and the bag was given to the ambulance crew to take to hospital with the patient.

In addition, the project looked at how the written information between the care home and hospital could be improved.  An information ‘passport’ was developed, where most information about the patient can be completed in advance and any additional information can be added in an emergency, if needed.  A luggage label was created which helps identify the bag and ensures the information passport gets to hospital - it fits inside the luggage label.  It also has reminder on the back of what to pack.

Sue Cutts, registered manager at Beanlands nursing home, says: “The STEP scheme makes a real difference to our older vulnerable patients as well as our staff.  The information passport has also improved overall communication, not just between ourselves and the hospital but also between the hospital and our residents.”