Issue 184 15.05.24
The weekly online newsletter for the care sector
Switch to decaf could save NHS £85m annually
that many hospital patients were SWITCHING to decaf could save falling on the way to the toilet, the NHS £85m per year, a care continence nurse specialist Sarah home trial has suggested. In a first-of-its-kind trial, residents Coombes suggested switching to decaffeinated drinks to reduce were offered decaffeinated hot bladder and bowel urgency in drinks in a bid to reduce falls those with an overactive bladder or experienced rushing to the toilet. incontinence. Within three months, Nodens Manor care home in Lydney commemorated its one-year anniversary with a party Conducted across eight toileting-related falls in the hospital for the residents. It featured live entertainment throughout the day, including a special residential care homes over six months, the switch resulted in a were down by 30 per cent. performance by MusiCare and the Forest of Dean Male Choir and refreshments for friends and 35 per cent reduction in toiletingRoughly 300 residents across Stow family. Home manager Bartosz Turewicz said: “As we celebrate our first year, I look back with related falls. If scaled across the Healthcare’s eight care homes were gratitude for the experiences shared. Through the challenges and moments of inspiration, I sector, the results would mean given the chance to blind tasteam humbled to have been a part of this remarkable journey and to have contributed to the thousands of falls prevented and test caffeinated and decaffeinated creation of a vibrant and supportive community at Nodens Manor. The privilege is truly mine, NHS savings of up to £85m per year. drinks. and I am thankful for the opportunities this year has brought us.” More than 90 per cent of residents This is according to a joint chose to take part in the trial after report published by Care England, being told about the potential Stow Healthcare and University health benefits of making the Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. Professor Martin Green OBE, chief switch, with the choice of caffeine SKILLS for Care is focusing on helping “That’s why we’re focusing on always available on request. Over executive at Care England, said: social care providers to keep the right providing information and support that six months between June and “Falls have a detrimental impact people working for them throughout can help employers to keep their staff November 2023, falls associated on thousands of older people every May and June. for longer. Creating a loyal workforce with care home residents going to year, not to mention the knockThe campaign aims to provide which is dedicated to your service, and on cost to the NHS. When we first the toilet dropped by 35 per cent. information and resources to help continuing to grow and upskill with heard about the results of UHL’s Ruth French, director at Stow employers understand what they can you, means you can offer better care to decaf trial in a hospital setting, the Healthcare, added: “The decaf do to retain staff, as well as sharing the people you support.” potential benefits for social care project has been eye-opening for practical tips, insights and stories from Running across its website, social were immediately clear. all of us at Stow Healthcare. Our across the sector. media, and other communication “For such a simple, cost-neutral residents and staff have been fully Skills for Care data found that channels, Skills for Care’s solution to have such a profound engaged in this project from the social care employers with the best #KeepTheRightPeople activity will impact is extraordinary. With a huge moment we launched. retention rates typically focused on cover what a good induction looks like, national focus on reducing pressure “To achieve a falls reduction of 35 offering learning and development how to develop a positive workplace, on the NHS, this pioneering trial per cent connected to going to the opportunities, ensuring a positive and how to offer proper learning and demonstrates that simple solutions loo is a significant finding for us all workplace culture and effective development opportunities to staff. can help address enormous in social care. recruitment and induction practises. More information on the campaign challenges. Care England is “The impact of a serious fall can John Kerr, head of workforce capacity, and how to get involved can be found delighted to have been involved in have devastating consequences, said: “One of our main strategic at https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/ this project and would encourage and finding simple ways such as objectives is to make sure we have the KeepingTheRightPeople care providers across the country to decaf drinks that might reduce this right number of people, with the right You can follow the campaign and join risk is ground-breaking. We hope it give decaf a go.” values and behaviours, working in in on discussions on social media using will inspire everyone in social care The trial followed a similar social care16:08 now and 00057 Carebeans CaringUK January 2024.qxp_Carebeans CaringUK Ad 23mmx80mm 15/12/2023 Pagein1 the future. #KeepTheRightPeople initiative by UHL in 2021. Noticing to take up the challenge.”
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