King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s Post

Thousands of people are now able to receive hospital level care while at home through the world leading virtual wards initiative. That’s people like Richard, who was one of the first to receive virtual care from Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, after experiencing a heart condition earlier this year. ‘When I was ready to be discharged the hospital needed to continue to monitor how I was getting on.’ After expressing he was happy to be part of the virtual wards programme, Richard went home to continue his care, where he could spend time recovering alongside his wife, Hazel. ‘I was handed a band to wear on my arm and the monitoring took care of everything. It was just like wearing a watch. Occasionally I would need blood tests so a couple of nurses would still visit me to make sure I was alright. You’ve got your home life available to you, you’re fully mobile and you can live your life as normal. If you’re eligible to take part, I would say go for it. It’s ideal, it gets you home where you are happier, and more relaxed and settled.’ The virtual wards programme shows a reduction in recovery times for patients and eases pressure on hospital beds. It also means people can recover in the comfort of their own home alongside their family. #NHS #VirtualWards #PatientCare #Innovative

https://lnkd.in/eCEC5KTc Update January 2023 Short nurses, CNAs, doctors, xray techs, patient transport, you name it but because there was no strings attached, you gave it to the csuite vs patient care or staff raises? I saw this in year end 2020 but looks like they are still collectively paying the executives vs proper floor staffing and safe nurse/patient ratios. 👇🏼 While the Trump administration and lawmakers at the time described the aid as crucial to shoring up patient care, the initial waves of #taxpayer funds came with "no strings" attached. So as reports of ventilator shortages and freezer trucks filled with bodies of #COVID-19 victims dominated the news, 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼 hospitals were quietly allowed to use emergency relief funds however they wanted, rather than being directed to spend it on #patient care. Ultimately, dozens of hospitals in New York and Connecticut went on to pay out millions in executive bonuses and record profits for the year, federal records show, an outcome that has advocates and government watchdogs pushing to ensure that in the future, #federal funding won't play a role in padding #executives' pockets during a global #emergency. See the hospital list in the article. Some of the groups are currently hemoriging losses 📉 and recieved financial downgrades. All future emergency aid, should include bans on executive bonuses, acquisitions, and other spending unrelated to patient care. #findyourwhy #patientadvocacy #dad #nurse #mandates #wrongfultermination

Shared in collaboration with Kansas Long-Term Care Ombudsman: We express gratitude to all leaders advocating for the strengthening and finalization of the proposed Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities rule by CMS. Just as laws need legislators, operations require surgeons, and football games demand players, nursing homes cannot function effectively without adequate staffing. Supporting the operation of nursing homes without sufficient nursing staff is detrimental to both residents and the existing long-term care workforce. Despite claims of massive closures, the actual data in Kansas over the past three years reveals closures are significantly lower than the average for businesses in a single year. Let's not be swayed by a minority benefiting from the current model, using fear-based tactics to preserve their profit margins. We must unite in prioritizing the well-being of those in nursing homes. Stand with us to demand the strengthening and finalization of staffing standards, ensuring the care and dignity of our fellow humans in these vital facilities. Just a reminder, the long-term care system that we build and maintain will likely serve you or someone you care about. #KABC #LongTermCare #LongTermCareAdvocates #Staffing #NursingHomeStaffing #StaffingStandards #NursingHomes #QualityCare #NursingHomeCare #Understaffing https://lnkd.in/g--X7dPc

https://ow.ly/2p7U50PYQRu Nursing homes face staffing mandates and financial stress, leading to closures. AHCA/NCAL annual conference highlights increasing need for Medicaid-based assisted living. #AssistedLiving #NursingHomeChallenges"

🚑 Exciting developments in #CommunityParamedicine are bridging healthcare gaps in Kansas! 🏡 Local EMTs, Paramedics, and others are being recognized for their non-emergency services that help keep their community members, neighbors, and loved ones healthy and safe in their own homes with #PatientCentric services. From in-home safety checks to managing chronic conditions, to delivering acute and complex care, these local heroes can do more than respond to emergencies—they can prevent them with #MobileIntegratedHealthcare. #BringCareHome Let's support policies that recognize and fund these essential services and #HealthcareInnovation. It's time for community paramedicine to shine in the Sunflower State! 🌟 Look for an in-depth brief Kansas Health Institute on the topic in the coming weeks. David Jordan, Wyatt Beckman, Sean Gatewood, Jason White Read more about how these community-focused initiatives are paving the way for better healthcare access and support: (https://lnkd.in/ghKkaFps)

This week has been very challenging. Last Sunday as I typed my week note I had returned from a hospital visit to see my 101 year old aunt. Mary was a kind, caring, compassionate person who was loved by all. Her dementia a continued frustration as she struggled of late to remember the names of family members who she had just seen. She died on Monday. Mary moved to a nursing home I chose a year ago. On the whole Mary was well looked after in her nursing home and was well supported through services such as her GP, NHS 111 and the local acute hospital. But there are Buts! Protocols were not always helpful, interventions and escalations happened but a day or two too late, and an acute admission often took 24-36 hours via the Emergency Department. When I recounted this a friend recently observed from her own experience you could not help but reflect a planned intervention of improved support in the community could have meant Mary remained in her home as opposed to the further deterioration she suffered each time. Mary spent her last Christmas in hospital. A three week stay. A week longer than necessary but difficulties in getting her transferred back to her home meant the wrap around support that would have made such a difference was not there. The final admission was a couple of weeks ago just after her 101st birthday. Usual process, NHS 111, Paramedics, admission via ED, etc. I could not help but reflect on the waste of resource and the unintended consequences despite the systems best efforts. There were simple short comings. I observed staff leaving phones going unanswered. Calls from relatives were not responded to and communication from the clinicians looking after her often delayed. The last time I saw her sadly she did not recognise me. The clock on the wall in her room was not working. Time was standing still. The previous week Mary said she just wanted to go to sleep now. Last Sunday she deteriorated overnight, contact with us was late morning. I was two hours away. Mary went to sleep. I was not there to hold her hand. Sometimes it’s the simple things we do. Mary did not want to die in hospital and sadly there was no one to hold her hand. These are not just words, but important words. If we are to make a difference we need to reflect, learn and plan to do things differently. Improve engagement and communication with relatives and carers. Agree the outcome at each stage we are looking for. Be honest, be responsive. My takeaway is to think around how we can make services make sense, be more joined up, avoid unnecessary duplication. Digital can play a significant part in this. So this week please think about what you are doing, how you can help make the system better. Finally a personal thanks to those of you who have been so supportive this week. You know who you are. Whether it was helping with words or covering some meetings. Best wishes to you all. x God Bless Mary. Enjoy your well-deserved rest. x

**Statement on Recent Events** Today will go down as one of the darkest days in the history of our college. After closely following a process conducted under the stewardship of the ACN President, Deputy President, and board, I have identified several concerning issues: 1. Procedural Fairness Failures: There were multiple points during the process where procedural fairness was not upheld. 2. Conflicts of Interest: Several conflicts of interest were not declared, compromising the investigation's integrity. 3. Public Humiliation: The process exposed the accused to unnecessary public humiliation. This situation is profoundly troubling and calls for immediate reflection and corrective action. I will, with other ACN fellows and members, have more to say on this over the coming days.

Creating #900 additional hospital beds is clearly a positive step given current #NHS pressures, but what’s most important is looking after patients in their *own beds* rather than them needing to go to hospital in the first place. To achieve this, we need social care to be focused on as much as the NHS, especially as we look ahead to this winter. Cera NHS England #NHS #Transformation #SocialCare https://lnkd.in/eCVPBm24

Some intriguing thoughts from the UK. It is comforting to know that we are not alone. It is also concerning to know this is happening more often that it should. Together we can continue striving to improve upon healthcare delivery. #seniorcare #seniorliving #nursingjobs