Are your patients aware of call for concern?
April 11, 2024
Our critical care outreach team have introduced a new patient safety initiative in response to the introduction of Martha’s rule.
Call for concern is a service for inpatients and their families which them to ask for immediate help and advice if they feel concerned about their own or their loved one’s changing condition.
Be sure to check out this short video to find out more.
Patients and/or their loved ones can call:
- if there are on-going concerns after speaking with the ward nurse or doctor
or
- if there is a noticeable change in a patient’s condition that the healthcare team hasn’t recognised.
Wards will be given a stock of leaflets which will be shared with patients, relatives or carers upon request. The leaflet explains the initiative and advises them how they can get in touch.
If they don’t have access to a mobile phone they may ask the ward team to bleep the critical care outreach team.
Direct numbers:
- 07970993906 for Sandwell patients
- 07811715041 for City patients
Bleep numbers:
- City: 6000
- Sandwell: 6234
The critical care outreach team will ask that all concerns are raised with the ward teams before contacting them.
When contacted, the team will respond quickly, assess the situation, and work with the medical team and other healthcare professionals as needed.
The service is not for patients in accident and emergency, paediatrics or neonates.
It’s important to remember that call for concern is for urgent matters. Patients or families with general issues related to things like the food, parking, or other non-medical matters, should liaise with a member of the ward team or the matron.
A patient leaflet has been created and be accessed here. A leaflet aimed at staff can also be accessed here. To request copies for your area please email sophieo’sullivan@nhs.net
