Impact Assessment on a Newly Implemented Service Utilising Recovery Nurses as Transfer Nurses, Incorporating a Literature Review of Pressure Ulcer Reduction Strategies, i.e. Mattress and Overlay Types, for Patients on Hospital Trolleys

Abstract

AbstractA new service was implemented as a pilot scheme. It utilised Recovery Nurses as transfer Nurses, to return patients to a ward following surgery, thereby reducing patient wait times on hospital trolleys. Patient wait times, on hospital trolleys raised concerns for tissue viability, which had implications for increased in-patient length of stay and costs. An impact assessment of the new service was undertaken to identify and analyse the direct and indirect impacts of the pilot scheme.A systematic review of Government literature over the preceding two decades highlighted patient experience and pressure ulcer reduction was high on their agenda. There was little published literature around overlays and mattress types for hospital trolleys as preventative measures for pressure ulcers, yet pressure area care can be traced back to 1962.The lack of nationally agreed guidelines to assess the suitability of the standard hospital trolley still remains a problem, and research was not able to provide clear, discrete answers to clinicians, to aid decision making. Hospital trolley mattresses need to have the same value placed upon them as bed mattresses and pressure-relieving devices and more risk management strategies need to be utilised for pressure sore prevention, where trolleys are concerned.