How helpers free up beds by collecting medication
HOSPITAL discharge times can be improved by using volunteers to collect medications, a trust has found.
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust launched its ‘bleep’ volunteering programme in March after noticing long waits for discharge medications were causing delays.
The hold-ups meant patients well enough to be discharged were stuck in hospital, blocking beds needed elsewhere. But since the London hospital asked volunteers to take over deliveries, more than 100 hours have been saved.
Desiree Benson, a volunteer colost ordinator for the charity Helpforce, said analysis showed the system saved staff 12 minutes per prescription, ensuring doctors and nurses can concentrate on clinical care.
She said: ‘Prescriptions for patients who were ready to be discharged were dependent on staff having the time to collect those from the pharmacy. In some cases, discharges could be delayed as a result of not receiving the take-out prescription. Patients can be sat waiting for hours, because there’s no-one to get it.’
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Patients commonly need their medications altered in line with their treatment before they can go home.
These are issued from the hospital pharmacy, which relies on a staff member or relative to collect it.
During the pilot project, volunteers using walkie- talkies would be bleeped by staff to respond to where they are most needed. Tasks carried out included escorting patients between appointments, directing patients or visitors, rounding up wheelchairs and returning them to reception, as well as collecting discharge medication.
The team have delivered an average of 70 take- out prescriptions a day, saving staff a total of 116 hours in around six months.
Rising waiting lists and hospital admissions has made reducing ‘bed blocking’ or delayed discharges of care a priority. Health professionals have hailed bleep volunteers a success, with other hospitals expected to roll out the scheme next year.
Aju Chacko, 40, who works at a cinema but volunteers at the Chelsea hospital on days off, said it was a rewarding role. He said: ‘The best bit is I can spend quality time with the patients. Sometimes they are really lonely so it’s nice to cheer them up.
‘Nurses can’t spend much time chatting to them but I can. It makes a real difference to people.
‘It’s really good fun and can be really busy. When it’s really busy we’re running around delivering medicines, transporting patients to different wards.’