Reducing complications with a prolonged hospital stay
Date issued: December 2024
For review: December 2026
Ref: C-542/HW/Ward/Reducing complications with a prolonged hospital stay v2
PDF: Reducing complications with a prolonged hospital stay[pdf] 230KB
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 explain to you what the ELSA project is and ensure that we are reducing the risk of complications associated with an extended hospital admission. We will discuss if there are any concerns regarding your admission and ensure you understand why you are in hospital.
If you remain in hospital, we will continue to have ELSA discussions with you on a weekly basis.
However, please know that you can always speak to the ward manager before this time.
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 during your admission you have any queries or 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. It is important, that if you can, you sit out of bed and mobilise as often as possible to reduce pressure on areas such as your heels, elbows and bottom. Please speak with the nurses if you start to feel any areas of soreness, particularly in the areas mentioned above.
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 having a fall. Please let the nurses know if you experience any dizziness when standing or increased pain.
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 hannahwebber@nhs.net 01752 439962
Angela Evans: Ward Manager, Stonehouse Ward a.evans10@nhs.net 01752 430052
Sue Clemow: Area Matron susan.clemow@nhs.net 01752 432386
