60 seconds with Neil Anderson: Why we're trialling flexible visiting
In his 60 seconds interview, Neil Anderson - ACCU Matron at St Bartholomew's - tells us why he and the team have launched a flexible visiting trial on 6A and what it could mean for our ACCU patients and their loved ones.
How did the flexible visiting trial come about?
Due to the complex and serious condition of many of our patients, we felt we could be more flexible and offer more open visiting to 6A ACCU. This was as a result of comments on friends and family surveys regarding the old visiting times of 14:30-20:30, which may described as being too restrictive.
How long will this trial run for?
6 months
How do you think this will improve patient care?
Being a patient in Intensive care can be a frightening and daunting experience, having family and friends present at the bedside for longer periods will provide reassurance and support for patients and families.
What are the benefits of flexible visiting for patients, visitors and/or staff?The family and friends of our patients will now be able to visit first thing in the morning, before work, then again from late morning. Patients in ICU often suffer with delirium, and having a familiar face present for longer periods will enable a speedier recovery.
Having a loved one in ICU can also be frightening for many and being able to visit for longer periods will be reassuring and families will have the ability to gain updates in person, rather than over the telephone where information is restricted.
What do you think the key challenges will be?
The challenge will be to ensure that families also get some rest time themselves. They don’t have to be present 24 hours a day. The new guidelines on when to avoid visiting should enable this.
How will the trial’s success be measured?
Feedback on friends and family test surveys and feedback from medical and nursing staff.
What advice would you give to any colleagues or teams who have an idea to improve patient care, but don’t know where to start?
Speak to any member of senior nursing staff who can explain the process and give advice on where to start.
What’s your favourite thing about your job?
I really enjoy line managing the Band 7 team of nurses on ACCU, they are a dynamic, hardworking and enthusiastic team. I also really enjoy my clinical days, taking charge or looking after patients in Critical Care, which means I have the best of both worlds.
What’s the most memorable feedback you’ve had from a patient?
When I worked as a B7 Senior Charge Nurse on 6A as the end of life care lead, I introduced bereavement resources, including handprint and hair locks keepsake materials and support books for patients that sadly died on the unit, funded by Bart’s Charity. A family wrote to me personally to thank me for the time I spent doing the handprints and to explain what the keepsakes meant to them during a very difficult time.
What does ‘outstanding patient care’ mean to you?
To me, outstanding patient care means that all patients admitted into the critical care areas are nursed in a safe and welcoming environment and that patient-centred ,individualised care is provided 24/7. I am employed by the public to provide a service, and the best thing is when they tell me that I am doing a good job.