NURSING STANDARD
NURSE AWARDS 2014
HEALTH PRACTITIONER AWARD Sponsored by the RCN
NURSING STANDARD
Janet targeted unmet health needs N UThomas RSE AWARDS
The physical health of people with severe mental illness is often neglected. Patients are more likely to smoke and have a poor diet, while psychiatric medication is known to affect physical health adversely. Yet these patients are less likely to be offered a physical health check. Support and time recovery worker Janet Thomas from 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust recognised this may be due to poor communication between primary and secondary care. So she visits GP surgeries to discuss patients on their lists, attends case meetings and sees patients with long-term health conditions. She has helped mental
JOHN HOULIHAN
Mental health gets physical
to explain how physical health is such an important component in patients’ recovery,’ said Janet. She ensures mental health care co-ordinators and consultant psychiatrists use the care plan approach to schedule annual health checks, encourages GPs and practice nurses to undertake checks, and identifies patients
SOME CLIENTS HAD SEVERE PROBLEMS – ALL EMINENTLY TREATABLE
health colleagues recognise that unmet physical health needs are their responsibility as much as that of the primary care team, who in turn she is educating about mental illness. ‘I hope I have managed
Letso Rapoo put HCAs in charge at Headley Court
MARK HAKANSSON
Empowered to succeed
At a time of low nurse staffing levels and high patient turnover at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court in Surrey, healthcare assistant Sergeant Letso Rapoo suggested establishing a ward led and staffed by healthcare assistants (HCAs) for patients requiring a lower level of supervision or preparing for their discharge. His nominator described him as a ‘naturally charismatic leader who stands out as
A TRULY INSPIRATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, CRYING OUT TO BE REPLICATED
who slip through the net. ‘Some clients were found to have severe problems such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertension, all of which are eminently treatable,’ Janet explained. ‘Janet really does have patients’ interests in the centre of her sights,’ said the specialist judge.
knowledgeable and credible, not shy of a challenge and always prepared to take responsibility to achieve the common good’. Sgt Rapoo identified admission and discharge criteria and operational policies, and negotiated the boundaries for HCA practice. ‘This reassured nursing and medical colleagues that HCAs can manage the risk,’ Sgt Rapoo told the judges. He now manages all aspects of his unit. ‘The HCAs are more empowered and take enormous pride in their ward. Staff are selected for their interpersonal and management skills, confidence and competence. All are constantly bringing in ideas to release the registered nurses to look after sicker patients.’ ‘A truly inspirational development and one that is crying out to be replicated,’ agreed the judges.
64 may 7 :: vol 28 noRCNi.com 36 :: 2014 STANDARD Downloaded from by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 24, 2015. For personal use only. NoNURSING other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
NURSE AWARDS 2014
HEALTH PRACTITIONER AWARD Sponsored by the RCN
NURSING STANDARD
Janet targeted unmet health needs N UThomas RSE AWARDS
The physical health of people with severe mental illness is often neglected. Patients are more likely to smoke and have a poor diet, while psychiatric medication is known to affect physical health adversely. Yet these patients are less likely to be offered a physical health check. Support and time recovery worker Janet Thomas from 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust recognised this may be due to poor communication between primary and secondary care. So she visits GP surgeries to discuss patients on their lists, attends case meetings and sees patients with long-term health conditions. She has helped mental
JOHN HOULIHAN
Mental health gets physical
to explain how physical health is such an important component in patients’ recovery,’ said Janet. She ensures mental health care co-ordinators and consultant psychiatrists use the care plan approach to schedule annual health checks, encourages GPs and practice nurses to undertake checks, and identifies patients
SOME CLIENTS HAD SEVERE PROBLEMS – ALL EMINENTLY TREATABLE
health colleagues recognise that unmet physical health needs are their responsibility as much as that of the primary care team, who in turn she is educating about mental illness. ‘I hope I have managed
Letso Rapoo put HCAs in charge at Headley Court
MARK HAKANSSON
Empowered to succeed
At a time of low nurse staffing levels and high patient turnover at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court in Surrey, healthcare assistant Sergeant Letso Rapoo suggested establishing a ward led and staffed by healthcare assistants (HCAs) for patients requiring a lower level of supervision or preparing for their discharge. His nominator described him as a ‘naturally charismatic leader who stands out as
A TRULY INSPIRATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, CRYING OUT TO BE REPLICATED
who slip through the net. ‘Some clients were found to have severe problems such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertension, all of which are eminently treatable,’ Janet explained. ‘Janet really does have patients’ interests in the centre of her sights,’ said the specialist judge.
knowledgeable and credible, not shy of a challenge and always prepared to take responsibility to achieve the common good’. Sgt Rapoo identified admission and discharge criteria and operational policies, and negotiated the boundaries for HCA practice. ‘This reassured nursing and medical colleagues that HCAs can manage the risk,’ Sgt Rapoo told the judges. He now manages all aspects of his unit. ‘The HCAs are more empowered and take enormous pride in their ward. Staff are selected for their interpersonal and management skills, confidence and competence. All are constantly bringing in ideas to release the registered nurses to look after sicker patients.’ ‘A truly inspirational development and one that is crying out to be replicated,’ agreed the judges.
64 may 7 :: vol 28 noRCNi.com 36 :: 2014 STANDARD Downloaded from by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 24, 2015. For personal use only. NoNURSING other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
