Patient Safety

South West Healthcare is committed to ensuring your safety whilst you are in our organisation. It is a very important part of our commitment to excellence. We also know that if patients are involved in their care whilst in hospital, they tend to do better and stay safer. By working together as part of the health care team, you can lower your risk of injury and make your stay in hospital as safe as possible.

Here's how you can help make your stay a safe and comfortable experience.

Ask questions.

• If you need an interpreter when English is not your primary language, please get one of your relatives let a staff member know.
• If you are deaf or hearing impaired, please let staff know.
• If you think of something when your doctor or nurse is not with you, write it down so that you can ask them later.

• Ask your doctor and nurse about your plan of care. Make sure that you understand and agree with that plan.
• Ask a family friend or relative to listen with you when treatment, care plans, test results and discharge plans are explained to you. This will help you remember things later on.
• Be informed about your treatment. Ask when treatment will be given and what they are for. If you don't understand a treatment, have someone explain it again.
• If equipment is used for your care, have someone explain it to you first, show you how it works and how it should sound if there are alarms.
• Question anything that seems different from what you were told.

• When you come into hospital, you will have an identification band on your wrist. You need to wear it at all times. If it comes off, you need to ask for a new one.
• Check the information on your armband to make sure that your name and other important information is correct.
• Make sure that all staff check your armband before any procedure or test.

• Hand washing is the best way to prevent the spread of germs.
• Practice good personal hygiene and let a nurse know if your linen or gown needs to be changed.
• Staff will welcome a reminder to wash their hands or wear gloves before they carry out treatment.
• Ask friends or relatives who have colds or other contagious illnesses not to visit you in hospital.
• Get vaccinated, if it is recommended. 'Flu and pneumonia vaccines can help prevent illnesses in older people and those who have low immunity.

• Ask your nurse or pharmacist about your medicines - what they are, what they look like, what they do, when they are to be taken and what side effects they may have.
• If you do not recognise a medicine, check that it is for you before taking it.
• Let your doctor or nurse know if you have any allergies or sensitivities to any medicines, foods or rubber products.
• Tell you doctor or nurse about all medicines you are taking including vitamins, herbal remedies and any other over the counter medicines.
• Do not take medicines that you brought from home unless you are told to do so by your doctor or nurse.

• Ask for help if you want to get out of bed especially at night. The hospital is an unfamiliar place and most falls happen when patients try to get out of bed on their own to go to the bathroom.
• Make sure that your call bell on your bed works and you know how to use it.
• Let your nurse know if you can't reach it or can't use it.
• Call for help before the need to go to the bathroom gets really urgent.
• Make sure that the light is on, at night, if you want to use the bathroom or move around your room. Keep your glasses within reach.
• Make sure that any furniture or equipment is moved out of the path to the door.
• Wear slippers with rubber soles to prevent slipping.
• Tell staff if there are any fluid spills or obstructions that might trip people.
• Make sure that the brakes are locked on your bed and any chairs, including shower chairs and wheel chairs before you get into them.
• Make sure children are supervised in play areas and around raised equipment like cots.

• A pressure injury (bed sore) can affect even healthy younger patients.
• Remaining still and in one place for too long can cause pressure to areas such as your heels and buttocks.
• Play the 'Bed Callisthenics' game! There is a set of bed based exercises that your nurse or physiotherapist can show you which will help reduce the pressure.
• Get up and move around as quickly as possible, if it is recommended, after your surgery. This will also assist the prevention of blood clots.
• For those patients who are going to be in bed for a while, we have special wedge pillows for your heels. Ask your nurse for those, even if you are on a trolley in the Emergency Department or going to X-ray.
• Make sure you know what pressure-relieving devices are going to be used in theatre.

• Pay close attention to where you place your dentures, hearing aids, eye glasses and other personal items (if you have them). These are very important to your comfort and well-being.
• Small amounts of cash are advised if you wish to purchase newspapers and other items from the kiosk. Never keep large sums of money in your bedside locker.

• Make sure that you understand discharge instructions including your medicines and any information about follow-up appointments with your doctor. Ask for a telephone number for the ward in case you have questions when you get home. You also need to be aware of the right time to seek medical treatment if you have any concerns about your health.
• In some cases, you will be called by one of the nursing staff when you go home to ensure that things are going according to plan. They will discuss with you the best time to call before you leave the ward.

• Talk to your doctor and pharmacist. Ask questions and write down what they say.
• There is a Shared Care Plan booklet available which can help you keep track of medicines, appointments and other important information.
• You can get equipment for the home if you need it. Contact the Occupational Therapy department before you go home or ask one of the nursing staff to do that for you.
• Keep a telephone near your bed at home in case you need help.
• Never smoke in bed.
• Look for things in your home that might affect you walking safely about your home: do not use extension cords, be careful with mats and rugs especially on polished floors and shift light furniture clear of pathways to the bathroom.

Managing Falls booklet. South West Healthcare patient information booklet. Ask staff in your ward for a copy.

Foothold on Falls booklet. Community resources to assist with maintaining independence at home. Ask staff for a copy.