Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has launched a patient communication toolkit, with the aim to support patients with additional communication needs.
The trust highlights the toolkit provides “a diverse collection of pictures and icons” to cover a range of everyday topics, designed to help patients when it comes to explaining their feelings and requirements to staff.
On the implementation of the toolkit, lead speech and language therapist in stroke, Fe Murphy, commented: “It’s going to make a big difference to staff and patients. It gives us the resources we need to share information more effectively, ensure understanding and have better conversations, while giving patients the ability to communicate with more confidence. We know that some patients can experience loneliness and feel isolated, so I hope the toolkit also encourages more compassionate conversations.”
Great Western also highlighted the extent of support offered by the toolkit, for individuals who have experienced a recent stroke or a brain injury, patients who are deaf or hard of hearing, people with learning disabilities, autism, dementia or those who do not speak fluent English.
Communication tech in health and care: the wider trend
For a recent HTN Now panel discussion, we focused on advancing patient engagement with communication tech and patient portals. This included speaking to experts about adoption, engagement, the use of AI and automation technologies, functionality and the future role of this type of tech in tackling NHS challenges. We welcomed Jothi Vasan-O’Leary, medical information officer and outpatient clinical lead (GIRFT) at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton; Daniel Parkinson, digital IT project manager at Leeds Teaching Hospitals; Sally Mole, senior digital programme manager – digital portfolio delivery team at The Dudley Group; and Emma Stratful, chief operating officer at OX.DH.
In February, Surrey Heartlands ICB opened an early engagement notice to gauge the level of interest and explore the market for patient portal engagement and inbound communication workflows. They noted that innovations must demonstrate “replicability” and align with objectives of improving access, capacity, and patient outcomes.
The Department of Health and Social Care recently proposed a new requirement for general practice to ensure patients can contact their surgery through electronic communications during core hours. Louise Ansari, chief executive at Healthwatch England, said: “As the NHS embarks on long-term reforms, it’s vital that short-term changes give people more choices over their care, more time to discuss their symptoms and lives in a safe space, and personalised support which works for them and their families.”
