- Executive Summary
- Policy
- Procedures
- Guidelines
- Forms & Charts
- Associated Material
- Patient Information
Executive Summary
The practice of observation of patients within a healthcare setting should only be regarded as one aspect of the spectrum of care provided to safeguard patient wellbeing, and cannot be undertaken as a standalone task. Interventions are necessary in order to reduce risk and increase safety for our patients and others. The practice of intervention within inpatient care settings must above all be seen as a process of personalised safe and therapeutic engagement.
NHS Lothian recognises that historically there have been a variety of terms used to define the level of observation which patients have received, and that may have led to some ambiguity. This policy introduces standardised and consistent terminology which should be used across all NHS Lothian adult inpatient settings. The terminology used in this policy reflects the importance of interventions in care, and represents a move away from using the term ‘observation’ in our practice.
This policy aims to promote and maintain a consistent approach to the formal risk assessment of patients across all healthcare settings. There are a range of risk assessments available to staff to enable them to make a professional judgement and plan the most appropriate care to maintain the patient’s safety and dignity.
The purpose of this policy is to promote and support the provision of proactive, responsive, individualised care and treatment to maintain patient safety and guide staff in their obligations where a level of intervention is required beyond that of general care, and the mechanisms for decision-making and communication.
Policy
Procedures
Guidelines
Forms & Charts
Associated Material
Patient Information
