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Storm Henk – update and advice
https://dchs.nhs.uk/my_dchs/show-me/staff-news-my-download/storm-henk-update-and-advice
A big day for Ilkeston’s diagnostics development
https://dchs.nhs.uk/news/big-day-ilkestons-diagnostics-development
Files
Delivering Same Sex Accommodation (P64)
Every patient has the right to receive high quality care that is safe, effective and respects their Privacy and Dignity. There are no exemptions from the need to provide high standards of privacy and dignity and this applies to all areas, including when admission is unplanned. This is one of the guiding principles of the NHS Constitution (2009) and at the core of local NHS visions. Derbyshire Community Health Trust ( DCHS) aim is that all patients who are admitted to any of our hospitals will only share the room where they sleep with members of the same sex, and same sex toilets and bathrooms will be close to their bed area. Sharing with members of the opposite sex should only happen by exception based on clinical need (for example where patients need specialist equipment), or when patients choose to share (for instance married couple who have been admitted together may want to share a side room). This Policy contributes to the achievement of CQC Outcome 4 – The patient will receive care, treatment and support in single sex accommodation wherever it is available. The aim is to ensure a clear and consistent approach is adopted across DCHS community hospitals by all ward managers.
The Use of Force, Restraint Reduction and the Management of Violence and Aggression (P58)
The policy provides a framework for support staff who work across Learning Disability Services (LD) and Older Peoples Mental Health Services (OPMH), in responding to situations that they face with regards to Behaviours that Challenge and in particular, violence and aggression (both where they can plan and where an incident in unforeseen).
Implementation of National Guidance Policy (P44)
All patients should have fair access to high quality care which is based on clear evidence of best practice. There are many examples of documents issued either by the Department of Health or bodies such as the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) which set out the requirements for organisations to follow either as mandatory targets or as best practice guidance and professional advice. This policy sets out the process for the dissemination and implementation of national guidance within Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust (DCHSFT). This policy aims to provide a clear process to ensure that national guidance for example NICE, Care Quality Commission Reviews, or NHS Improvement, are appropriately disseminated implemented and monitored across the organisation.
Dressing Formulary and Wound Care Guidelines (G68)
The Derbyshire Wound Care and dressing formulary has been revised in collaboration with the East Midlands Wound Care Formulary Group. Work has been undertaken to provide a clinically effective, appropriate and cost effective choices of products to manage the vast majority of wounds. The formulary is available for all practitioners working for Derbyshire Community Health Services and Primary Care Services. It is expected that prescribers will preferentially use the products listed in the guide for routine use and be able to provide robust rationale where they have prescribed outside the formulary.
Oral Suction Guidelines for Adults (G186)
Many people require oral suctioning to help with clearance of difficult secretions. This document is to support those using the equipment and administering the suctioning.
UTC Acute Wound Care Formulary (G99)
A comprehensive evidence‐based approach to acute wound management is an essential skill set for any Emergency Clinician or Urgent Care Practitioner and this adapted version of the DCHS wound care formulary has been devised to help facilitate this. The Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) acute wound care formulary is designed to provide Clinicians with a comprehensive guide to wound dressing products and closure within this speciality. These products were originally selected using the Derbyshire Community Dressing Formulary and Wound Care Guidelines 2018 in version 1 and have been updated in conjunction with the updated version of this for 2022 and the East Midlands Tissue Viability Group
Clinical Record Keeping Policy and Standards (P6)
This policy aims to ensure that the clinical records made by staff are fit for purpose and of a quality that provide for objective, accurate, current and comprehensive information that supports and enables the best clinical care and treatment for the patient/client. This policy has incorporated a range of best practice and related legislative requirements to outline the organisations expectations for clinical record keeping standards, both on paper and electronically. The policy provides support to the organisation in meeting its statutory and legal obligations as laid down by the Records Management: NHS Code of Practice 2016; Data Protection Act 1998 section 7, General Data Protection Regulation 2018 and relevant professional bodies. The policy also identifies the standards expected of all registered and non-registered staff. It sets a minimum standard, which will be applicable to all patient settings, including community clinics and inpatient areas. This policy does not replace standards set by professional organisations, but is complementary to them and should be used in conjunction with them.
Medical Devices Policy (P27)
The aim of this document is to outline a standardised approach to purchasing, deployment, maintenance, repair and disposal of medical devices within the Trust and the services commissioned by the Trust. The purpose of this policy is to provide the means of ensuring that all acquisitions of items of medical equipment are made only after consideration and approval by the relevant management groups and in accordance with the procedures detailed within this policy and with all related DCHS policies, European Union (EU) public procurement rules, advice from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and statutory requirements.
Recognition of Patient Deterioration (Adults) Policy (P83)
The aim of this policy is to set the minimum standard and frequency for monitoring and recording adult patients’ vital signs in their own home, Minor Injuries Units, outpatient podiatric surgery and community hospital wards. The mismanagement of deterioration is a common area of systemic failure in avoidable patient death across the NHS (NHS Improvement, 2016, Hogan et al, 2012) and poor communication is a leading cause of adverse events in healthcare. The National Early Warning Score (NEWS) offers a common language to describe and communicate a patient’s acute illness severity by all healthcare professionals in all settings and is central to establishing a national pathway for improving the management of deterioration and sepsis (Inada-Kim and Nsutebu, 2018). This policy aims to increase survival among acutely unwell and deteriorating patients
The Management of Warfarin Therapy for Inpatients Guidelines (G233)
The aim of this guideline is to improve the safety of anticoagulant therapy for inpatients under the care of DCHS by: • Providing an evidence-based algorithm for the initiation of warfarin therapy in atrial fibrillation, including the use of a specific SystmOne template for warfarin management. • Offering an evidence-based algorithm to guide maintenance dosing decisions. • Clarifying the process for communicating follow-up arrangements to primary care teams when a patient is discharged from hospital. • Endorsing the level of competence and training required of clinicians who prescribe warfarin. • Ensuring that the guidance will be built into an audit and review cycle.