Heartbeat: A prescription for a good night’s sleep

September 13, 2019

The buzz of a busy ward with bright lights, beeping and bustle of nursing colleagues caring for patients might seem like the norm for most hospitals but feedback from patients and clinical evidence is showing is detrimental effect to rest and recovery.

Most people would be forgiven for not knowing the extent of the effect of disturbed sleep on patients other than the expected tiredness but the physical and psychological effects are immense. Sleep deficit has been linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes as well as cardiovascular disease.

However at our Trust, we’ve decided to turn the table on sleepless nights and tackle this issue with the introduction of the ‘Quiet Protocol’.

The new quiet protocol sets out to restore peace and tranquillity on wards and support rest and recovery through the introduction of a wind down period from 9pm, with the aim of all patients being settled and ready for sleep by 11pm. The protocol will ensure that lights are dimmed, beds are filled and noise kept to an absolute minimum. Wards will also be supported to ensure that supplies for sleep essentials such as pillows, eye masks, ear plugs and soft closing bins are replenished. Sharing her thoughts on the new initiative, Chief Nurse, Paula Gardner said, “The quiet protocol will give us the ability to plan and personalise the sleep habits of our patients, ensuring that we’re doing everything we can to support them to have a good night’s sleep. Whether the patient likes to have a drink before bed or a trip to the toilet, we will be in a much better position to understand and support. The quiet protocol will build on this and ensure that the environment supports a good night’s sleep.

We understand that wards can never be completely silent but the work we are doing aims to make the patient experience better by reducing the amount of unnecessary noise to an absolute minimum and making sure that the sleep and recovery of our patients is kept high on our agenda.”

The Sleep Protocol will be piloted and monitored on a single ward during September with a view to roll out more widely in Winter.