Work is underway across the organisation to help make NHS Forth Valley one of the safest and caring organisations in the NHS. That’s the aim of our new Quality Improvement Strategy which sets out five key aims to improve the care and experiences of local patients across Forth Valley.
A number of priorities have been identified for 2017/18, including work with staff and families to:
- Reduce falls and falls with harm
- Identifiy and respond effectively to patients whose condition is deteriorating
- Reduce harm, including infections from invasive devices such as urinary catheters and peripheral venous cannulae
- Provide the highest possible standards of care for older people and people with dementia
One new initiative, which is currently being piloted wtihin the mental health unit, is already improving services for local patients. This sees Mental Health Nurse Practitioners working with the Duty Doctor overnight to improve the emergency mental health service out-of-hours. As a result, patients referred from the Emergency Department and GP out-of-hours services can be seen more quickly for an emergency assessment.
The pilot also represents a significant step toward developing a nursing service for the future, supporting and up-skilling mental health nursing staff for advanced practice roles, in line with national directives.
Lorraine Robertson, Head of Mental Health Nursing commented “I am proud that we are moving forward and carving out models for advanced practice within NHS Forth Valley. I sincerely believe that this pilot will be a success in improving the quality of service we provide for our patients and supporting our nurses to become Advanced Nurse Practitioners.”
Updates and improvements being made through the Quality Strategy will be showcased in future editions of Staff News to keep staff updated on progress. You can read the Strategy on NHS Forth Valley website (under Publications – Health and Strategic Plans).
Pictured: Back Row Left to Right: Anne Cook (Clinical Nurse Manager), Fiona Mitchell (Nurse Practitioner), Karen Storey (Nurse Practitioner), Robert Jack (Nurse Practitioner). Front Row Left to Right: Carol Wallace (Nurse Practitioner), Helen Barclay (Nurse Practitioner), Rhona Mackie (Nurse Practitioner), Jackie Maher (Senior Charge Nurse/Team Leader)
