Heartbeat: Getting back to the basics of care

October 26, 2022

Going back to basics may sound simple enough – but it is essential when it comes to the care we deliver to our patients.

This is what our Fundamentals of Care framework will address, as many colleagues heard at the official launch of the programme in September.

The day-long event at West Bromwich Albion FC, heard from patients, carers and staff about what mattered to them whilst receiving consistent care from either clinicians at our hospitals or in the community.

There were also workshops held where colleagues were able to talk about ways they could improve the delivery of consistent care.

Mel Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer, said: “I want to thank everyone who attended the launch event for Fundamentals of Care. I was delighted with the way everyone was fully committed and engaged with the approach.

“This really is the start of our journey together and there was amazing energy in the room throughout the day.

“We heard from many during the event – our patients, people and population – about why it’s so important to get the basics right.

“Now we need to turn that energy into action and work hard to provide high quality patient care.”

Striking a chord with many was partially sighted Graham Price’s story, who is part of an oral, nutrition and hydration patient focus group at the Trust.

He described how simple things like staff telling him where food is on his plate would help him along with more stable drinking cups or bottles.

Meanwhile carer Jaswinder Kaur Bedi talked about her daughter, now aged 20, who has autism and learning difficulties. She said: “When accessing healthcare I want people to listen to me. When my daughter was younger I noticed she had speech and language issues, but no one listened to me. It was an ongoing issue. She wasn’t diagnosed and healthcare workers didn’t understand our issues we had at home.

“Everything took a long time for us to get help.”

Feedback from colleagues who attended has been positive.

Marsha Jones, deputy director of governance, shared: “What a fantastic day at the Fundamentals of Care Launch. We’ve recognised there is much to do but we have set the vision so we are all heading in the same direction collectively.”

The Fundamentals of Care framework will improve essential standards of consistent care, patient’s outcome and experience and we want to ensure this approach is interdisciplinary, owned by all staff and applied consistently across all areas of care.

We are partnering with the International Learning Collaborative (ILC) who will support the organisation through their world -wide network based in Europe, Australia , New Zealand, North America and Canada.

And we are the first Trust in England to become ILC members and one of the first UK to develop a care delivery model that places the Fundamentals of Care at its heart. Going forward as part of this approach we will establish a service accreditation programme and a Fundamentals of Care steering committee.