It is not rocket (or even medical) science

Article Type: News From: International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Volume 60, Issue 4

A programme to improve efficiency at a Lincolnshire hospital (the UK) ward is saving from four to five hours a day, hospital officials say.

The scheme at Grantham hospital (Hong Kong) was introduced in August and has freed up more staff time for patient care. The scheme has seen the ward “de-cluttered”and new systems put in place for handovers. The new way of working is being rolled out to all wards run by United Lincolnshire Hospitals National Health Service Trust.

Nursing staff have found that dedicated reading time for patient notes at the start of each shift gives them a better understanding of patients’ cases,said the hospital. Productive ward lead Kristy Turner said: “the first thing we did was to organise some areas of the ward, de-clutter them and ensure that everything was easier to find”.