Following on from the recent release of the National Care Indicators Survey results for aged care providers in the region, the Whanganui District Health Board has today released the results of same survey carried out at the Wanganui Hospital.

The survey accessed 70 adult patients throughout the hospital for the presence of pressure ulcers, incontinence, malnutrition, use of restraint and falls.

The results indicate that on average:

• 6% of participants had pressure ulcers
• 23% experienced loss of bladder control
• 21% were determined to be underweight or overweight or meet the clinical definition of malnourishment and a further 12% were identified to be at high risk of becoming malnourished
• 29% of participants required action to be taken, such as the use of bedrails, to prevent them from falling
• 23% of participants had a fall within the previous 30 days, most of which had happened at home prior to coming to hospital

Whanganui DHB General Manager Patient Safety and Service Quality, Sandy Blake said overall, the results are low in comparison to international benchmarks, including Queensland Australia where similar studies have been conducted.

“While our results are low, the survey data provides us with the opportunity to better understand the five key issues that affect elderly patients and implement new initiatives to improve care provision and patient outcomes” said Mrs Blake.

“The results will also act as a benchmark for future surveys to measure progress and the success of prevention initiatives.”

The results and learning from both the hospital and rest home survey are being considered by the Risk and Audit Committee at their meeting next week.

Three prevention initiatives aimed at reducing falls, malnourishment and pressure ulcers are currently being developed and implemented:

• Falls injury prevention standard 
• Red tray initiative
• Pressure ulcer prevention standard

A falls injury prevention standard and information pack has been developed that provides staff with resources to access and develop a care plan for patients at risk of falling. It has been successfully trialled in the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation (ATR) ward and is soon to be implemented in the medical ward.

Patients with nutritional issues, such as an inability to feed themselves, are identified on admission and their meals served on a red tray. The red tray initiative is a practical and simple way to ensure patients who are identified as being nutritionally at risk, receive additional assistance and attention from nursing staff at mealtimes.

The district health board is currently finalising a Pressure Ulcer Prevention standard, which has been adopted from the internationally recognised European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel recommendation. The prevention standard covers pressure ulcer assessment, management, monitoring and evaluation of outcomes. 

The Wanganui Hospital National Care Indicators Survey was a collaborative effort between the Whanganui District Health Board, Dr Jan Weststrate from the Victoria University of Wellington and the University of Maastricht, Netherlands.

The University of Maastricht has been running the validated national prevalence care problems programme since 1998.

The Whanganui District Health Board will repeat the survey in 2012.