Supporting patients to return home

In an aim to reduce the length of stay for patients and get them back to their residence, we’ve opened a nurse and therapy-led Reablement Assessment Hub at Broadgreen Hospital. This 23-bed ward is designed for patients who require ongoing assessment and intervention before being discharged.The team are encouraging patients to be dressed and engaged in activity during the day and continue the patients’ rehabilitation, reablement and discharge planning already started on the acute site.

Jenny Taylor, Broadgreen Hospital Director of Nursing,

said: “This approach supports improvement in the quality of life for our patients, and also supports the community care system by reducing the number of patients requiring residential care. “We have an excellent team of nurses and therapists who work with patients to provide the treatment and therapy they need to be able to return to their residence. By encouraging patients to get dressed and move about it gives them confidence, which supports their recovery. “The reablement pathway helps patients re-learn how to do daily activities, and in turn aims to reduces the number of discharge pathways a patient will experience. “The results in the first month, after admitting 42 patients, are demonstrating this reablement pathway is working, as 21.4% of our discharged patients have seen a reduction in their discharge pathways.” To ensure the most suitable patients are benefitting from this new service they are being selected from our current ‘Ready for Discharge’ list.

Aintree's Frailty Assessment Unit moves to support patient pathways

The Frailty Assessment Unit has now moved into Ward 28B (formerly SAU). The unit supports both ambulatory and inpatient pathways. The Frailty Unit will remain in this area until the long-term Estate plan is complete and they relocate into the current Clinic A&B area at the front of Aintree Hospital.

New LCL services set to enhance patient care

Phlebotomy has now moved into the Royal hospital. The service is currently working to expand the Simply Book system used at the Aintree site, for use on Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen sites too. Use of Simply Book also means patient access to phlebotomy services will be provided from one point of contact, for ease and simplicity, improving patient experience. The Royal hospital is now equipped with a state-of-the-art pneumatic POD system. This allows samples to be transported to the lab quickly and efficiently, contributing to the improved turnaround times for results. The system is also connected to Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, meaning patients can attend clinic and have much needed chemotherapy the same day. The LCL Point of Care Team (POCT) has grown over the last four years and now supports 50 blood gas machines, over 1000 glucose meters across Merseyside, over 50 urinalysis devices, 15 Ketone meters and 15 urine pregnancy. The team is constantly looking for new, innovative ways to support LUHFT’s clinical teams.

Over the last three years, LCL have introduced Point of Care COVID testing in A&E at the Royal and Aintree sites to support the patient flow. Brand new gas machines have been installed along with an improved POCT IT system, enabling LCL to connect all gas machines in LUHFT to standardise the service provided, ensuring results are recorded in the patient records.

New Royal leaves a great first and lasting impression on patients

Our first inpatient, 79-year-old Marjorie Sharkey, was ecstatic when she arrived at her ward in the new Royal Hospital, discovering she could watch Coronation Street in the comfort of her single, ensuite room. Having previously had no television to watch her soaps, and a communal toilet and bedroom space, Marjorie could now enjoy some home comforts from her new hospital bed. Marjorie’s praise for our new building has been echoed by outpatients. June Pinto from Mosley Hill said: “It is a fabulous facility for our city. Everyone involved in its opening should be proud. You can see the thought that has gone into where departments are located. It is fantastic.” Sue Taylor from Liverpool said: “I’ve been a patient at the Royal for a very long time. There could not be a greater contrast from the old hospital. The new building is so airy and bright. And seeing the new theatres and how they all connect and work together was very exciting.”