Reducing complications with a prolonged hospital stay
Date issued: September 2023
Review date: September 2025
Ref: C-542/HW/Ward/Reducing complications with a prolonged hospital stay
PDF: Reducing complications with a prolonged hospital stay[pdf] 239KB
Wolf and Stonehouse Wards
Our pledge
We will review all our inpatient’s length of stay daily. All patients that have been admitted for 7 days or longer will be visited by either the area matron or ward manager. During this visit we will discuss the following questions with you:
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Do I know what is wrong with me or what is being excluded?
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What is going to happen now, later today, and tomorrow to get me sorted out?
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What do I need to achieve to get home?
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If my recovery is ideal and there is no unnecessary waiting, when should I expect to go home?
The evidence
We know that it’s much better for patient’s physical and mental wellbeing to be discharged as soon as they are medically fit. A longer stay in hospital can increase a patient’s risk of harm including exposure to healthcare-associated infections or pressure damage.
What can you do?
It’s important that, if you can, you keep moving! This will help to reduce your risk of pressure damage, promote independence, and facilitate your recovery.
If you have any concerns, please ask the nurse caring for you or ask to speak with the ward manager.
Avoiding harm
The nurses caring for you will assess your skin daily and may need to put things into place like pressure relieving mattresses to avoid any skin damage.
We will also assess your risk of having a fall whilst in hospital and again put things into place to avoid this. You may be asked to wear a yellow wristband which shows the nurses that you may need assistance to mobilise for us to avoid you falling.
We will look at the devices you have like cannulas and catheters and ask the doctors whether these can be removed.
We want you to be able to discuss any concerns or queries with us. Please feel free to speak with the ward manager whilst you are on the ward or use the contact details below.
Hannah Webber: Ward Manager, Wolf Ward
01752 439962
Angela Evans: Ward Manager, Stonehouse Ward
01752 430052
Sue Clemow: Area Matron
01752 432386
