Communications aid for patients launched at the Royal
Chesterfield Royal Hospital has launched a booklet, supported by the Trust’s Charitable Funds, to help patients keep important information about them in one place.
The booklet is aimed at patients who might find communicating with clinical staff difficult, or who might have sensitive information they want to share. It can fit easily into a pocket or handbag and is an easy to use reference guide, intended to help health professionals during clinical discussions with patients that goes beyond what is included in a person’s medical record.
Vikki Develin is the Trust’s Patient Experience Manager, she said:-
“This booklet would never have come about if it wasn’t for Sue Towner in our Patient Advice and Liaison (PALS) Team and one of our patients; the idea was developed following a conversation they had as he asked if there was anything he could use to support his conversations with clinical staff. It was a great idea and we have a number of patients who might struggle with conversations for lots of different reasons; perhaps they have Dementia or have had a stroke, they may have a learning disability or been diagnosed with Autism.
“The booklet highlights straight away whether a patient has any communication difficulties. It will allow our clinicians to see, at a glance, some of the vital information that they would possibly have difficulty obtaining, as well as helping them to quickly understand how they can best communicate with the person they are seeing.
“The kind of information the booklet will contain includes whether or not they need help with certain everyday tasks such as standing, going to the toilet or eating, it explains what aids they should have with them, for example glasses, hearing aids or dentures and if they need communication aids such as an interpreter or hearing loop.
“It also details any speech problems, if they have sensory issues such an aversion to loud noises, bright lights or busy places and what medication they might currently be taking. There are sections where the patient can write in more detail about how the health professional might be able to help them, what else they might need to know quickly, for example if they’re diabetic, have a particular allergy or if there is a person they might need to contact to help with any decisions.”
The Patient Experience Team produced the booklet thanks to support from the Chesterfield Royal Hospital Charitable Funds Committee, who provided the money to have it printed. The ‘About Me’ booklet was developed in partnership with patients and the public, and the views of patients and visitors were also gathered during the Annual Members Meeting. The team would like to thank those people who were involved in developing and reviewing the booklet, including the Trust Reader’s Panel, Derbyshire BME Forum and autistic people in our local community and on Twitter who offered their instrumental views and suggestions.
“It isn’t there to replace medical notes,” Vikki added, “it’s owned by the patient and acts as an up to date, point in time reference that our clinicians can see and gather important information at a glance that may affect how they treat patients and what medication they can prescribe.
“Above all else we hope that the booklet will help our clinical colleagues to understand the patient more as a person by going beneath the condition that has caused that person to require treatment. It’s about us being able to see at a glance why conversations might prove to be difficult and allow us to overcome these obstacles quickly so that our patients are treated effectively and with dignity and respect.”
Patient Simon Cramp, who was the inspiration behind the idea, added:-
“I welcome the fact that my idea was taken on board and that the Trust has developed this little booklet to help patients with additional needs. It will help to make their stay here a better experience and is also a great example of how the Equality Act 2010, from the Trust’s point of view, is a welcome and helpful tool to improve the service to better patient care.”
The ‘About Me’ books can be picked up at the Royal’s Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) in the main entrance and will also be handed out to patients in outpatient clinics and on wards over time.
