Innovative video system ensures vulnerable patients receive outstanding care

An innovative camera system is being rolled out in The Walton Centre’s Hyper Acute Rehabilitation Unit to enhance monitoring of our most vulnerable patients.

The closed-circuit camera system, installed in Lipton Ward, our Hyperacute Rehab Unit, will enable clinical staff to monitor up to four patients at a time. A member of staff will monitor the viewscreen in a discreet location on the ward, and a Healthcare Assistant will act as a responder to any patients needing assistance.

Lipton Ward Manager Jade Gerrard said: “Depending on the number of complex patients we have on the ward and due to the layout of the ward, each patient may require a dedicated member of staff in order to be cared for safely, which can be considered intrusive for the patients and put pressure on staffing resources. Being able to monitor a higher ratio of patients via this camera system means providing the best care possible by maintaining patient safety while using resources appropriately.”

The system will be used to monitor patients who are vulnerable to falls, display confusion, in some cases delirium and may have devices in-situ that require close monitoring. Patients, or next of kin if the patient doesn’t have capacity, will consent to having a camera at their bedside, before any monitoring. Images of patients are streamed live and not stored, so no recording takes place. Introduction of this patient safety system is part of a raft of innovative projects aimed at improving efficiency whilst maintaining patient safety, in line with The Walton Centre’s three-year strategy.   

Divisional Nurse Director of Neurology and Rehabilitation Sarah Flynn said: “Being able to introduce this video monitoring system means that a tailored level of care, specific to the individual, can be offered to all inpatients on Lipton Ward. It allows us to observe patients within visual range, maintaining patient safety monitoring in a less intrusive way, whilst utilising staffing resources effectively and efficiently. It means staff who were otherwise only able to observe one patient due to ward layout or patient location can now do so with several patients at once whilst maintaining an adequate response to patient needs. We’ve created a robust operational procedure whereby staff rotate monitoring duties every hour, which helps to ensure that the quality of patient monitoring remains high.

“The world of healthcare is really picking up the pace when it comes to new technologies and innovations. We’ve already trialled this kind of system on our Complex Rehabilitation Unit, with a resoundingly positive result. The Walton Centre is committed to adapting to an everchanging ward-environment and continuing to deliver outstanding care to our patients. Our staff work hard for patients, and sometimes that means smarter too.”

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Notes to editors

Further information, or to arrange an interview, please contact the Communications Team at The Walton Centre on 0151 556 3397 or wcft.communications@nhs.net

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust is the only hospital trust in the UK specialising in neurology, neurosurgery and pain services. Although the majority of patients come from Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales, Lancashire and the Isle of Man, for some specialist treatments of complex disorders we see patients from all parts of the country, referred by their GPs or other neurologists, neurosurgeons and pain clinicians.

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust was rated as ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission. The independent regulator of all health and social care services in England published its rating on Friday 21 October 2016, following announced and unannounced inspection visits to the Trust in April 2016.

For more information please visit: www.thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk or follow the Trust on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

 

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Lower Lane, Fazakerley, Liverpool L9 7LJ
0151 525 3611