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Welsh Nursing Care Record - More time to care

Bwrdd Iechyd PrifysgolIechyd a Gofal Digidol CymruAneurin Bevan University Health BoardDigital health and Care Wales Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board

Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

Bwrdd Iechyd PrifysgolWelsh Nursing Care Record – More time to care Hywel Dda University Health Board

Bwrdd Iechyd Addysgu Powys Powys Teaching Health Board Ymddiriedolaeth GIG Prifysgol Felindre Velindre University NHS Trust

As health and care in Wales undergoes a Iechyd Cyhoeddus digital transformation, nurses are taking Cymru their place at the forefront of innovation. Public Health Wales Over the past year, nurses across Wales have swapped their clipboards and paper documents for tablets and laptops, and are now recording Ymddiriedolaeth GIG patient data digitally, through the Welsh Nursing Gwasanaethau Ambiwlans Cymru Care Record (WNCR). Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust The digital system, delivered by Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW), - has transformed the way nurses record, store and access information. It allows nurses to complete an online assessment form at a patient’s bedside, saving time and improving patient safety. Since its launch in spring 2021, the system has become the new way of working and nurses report that they ‘can’t imagine what they did without it’. The ability to complete assessments at a patient’s bedside on a handheld device has taken away much of the time-consuming paperwork and enabled them to place a greater focus on the patient experience. Staff Nurse at Withybush Hospital, Stacie Hall, commented: “It’s better to capture all the information with the patient so you can go through everything in one go. It definitely saves time, and I think it’s better for patient care because it means we can spend more time with them”. There are also many benefits of the WNCR that aren’t immediately visible to the patient. The system’s ability to share patient information instantly across wards and hospitals in Wales allows for smoother transitions between hospitals. Alongside this, reducing the scope for human error saves time, improves accuracy and minimises duplication. Greg Dix, Executive Nurse Director at Cwm Taf Morgannwwg, declared that it’s been a ‘gamechanger’ for the staff in both releasing time to care and for the level of assurance that the system provides from an audit perspective. Within its first year of inception, the Welsh Nursing Care Record was implemented in six different health boards and 72 wards across 20 hospital sites, with full rollout scheduled for the end of 2022.

“We have improved the quality, safety and experience for patients admitted to our adult inpatient wards across five health boards and Velindre Trust, through the implementation of the WNCR. This is a significant point in nursing history – moving from paper to digital has enabled us to improve the compliance and completeness of our adult inpatient assessments and nursing documentation through the standardisation and digitisation of nursing information. We have much more to do and look forward to the next steps as we continue to develop the WNCR.” Claire Bevan

Senior Responsible Owner WNCR

www.dhcw.nhs.wales

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