Patient feedback leads to improvements on surgical wards
Surgical wards at UHP have had improvements made to their bathrooms to help patients with stomas maintain their independence thanks to patient feedback.
Bathrooms within the Stonehouse and Wolf wards, and the Surgical Assessment Unit at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP) now feature shelving space after the experiences of patients who have a stoma were shared through the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS).
A stoma is a surgically created opening in the abdomen where a part of the bowel is brought outside of the body. It’s used when a part of the bowel needs to be removed or rested after treatment or surgery. Having a stoma means that waste passes through the opening in the abdomen, and is then collected in a disposable bag, known as a stoma bag. Changing these bags can be difficult for patients if there is not adequate space or the correct equipment, such as spare bags and cleaning wipes.
Advice submitted to the Trust’s Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS), indicated a lack of shelving space in bathrooms on surgical wards was causing difficulties for patients with stomas.
PALS shared this with the Matron for the area, who worked hard to enact change and improve patient experience. Susan Clemow, Matron for Colorectal, Hepatobiliary, Oesophageal-Gastric, General and Emergency Surgery, said: “Having worked on level 7 for many years, the idea of shelves in the bathrooms had never occurred to me. Once raised, it seemed like such an obvious and beneficial addition, given the equipment required for stoma care. This change highlights how the best improvements often come from simple yet practical ideas.
“We were grateful this was brought to our attention and were happy to install shelves in one bathroom on each ward – Stonehouse, Wolf, and the Surgical Assessment Unit. The response from patients has been overwhelmingly positive, making stoma care more convenient and accessible.
“This is a perfect example of why patient and relative feedback is invaluable. By listening and responding, we continue to shape a care environment that truly meets the needs of those we serve."
At UHP we aim to create the conditions for patients and families to have positive experiences of care and strive for continuous improvement. We recognise there is no better or more important way of improving our services than by listening to what individuals think, feel, and experience throughout their care journey and beyond.
Patients or visitors who are seeking advice or help with our services can contact our PALS team who will be able to offer guidance as well as listen to your views on how we can improve our services, and pass this on to the appropriate person for action. If you are an inpatient or a visitor of an inpatient who would like to provide feedback to a ward, please speak with the Matron for the area in person or through the Meet the Matrons service .
