A distraction worthy of attention at Fiona Stanley Hospital
Peter (pictured back row, third from left) with the grateful Ward 6C team
Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH) Safety and Incident Management Services (SIMS) Team Leader Peter Cook has raised $1500 to purchase distraction devices for inpatients requiring medical and mental health support for eating disorders on Ward 6C.
Hoping to help high-risk patients stay calm and cope with their hospital stay, Peter said he got the idea from talking to the young patients on Ward 6C during SIMS security call outs.
Displaying that everyone can contribute to the patient experience, Peter and his team collected roughly 15,000 cans and bottles from collection points around the hospital over the past nine months on night shifts, and, after cashing them in, spent the funds on puzzles, colouring in books, pencils, and sensory devices for the ward.
“When I chatted to patients during de-escalation, a common theme of what may help was distraction devices - like fidget spinners, puzzles or colouring in books,” Peter said.
“I hope the devices improve the hospital experience for patients with eating disorders and also potentially help reduce the need for us to attend and stress on staff.”
Ward 6C General Medicine Nurse Unit Manager, Shreena Peters, said they were grateful for the generous contribution from the SIMS team, as well as their continued collaborative working relationship to effectively de-escalate and manage patient behaviours on Ward 6C.
“FSH records the highest number of patients requiring inpatient admission with eating disorders in the state, many of whom may experience triggers related to medical treatment during the re-introduction of nutrition,” Shreena said.
“Due to this we’re often required to collaborate with the FSH SIMS team on the ward to keep our patients and staff safe,” Shreena said.
“The SIMS team plays a vital role in minimising injuries to both patient and staff during code black situations and have fostered a productive working relationship with both nursing staff and patients alike.”
Nursing staff will engage with patients on an individual basis to determine the most suitable and appropriate distraction device for them.
In addition, the SIMS team was given a large container of items from a well-wisher to contribute to the great work Peter and his team are doing.
The SIMS team plans to continue with their ‘containers for change’ collection and is looking to make a donation to FSH cancer patients next.
Patient Experience Week (external site) is held 28 April to 2 May and celebrates people who have a positive impact on the patient experience. This year’s theme celebrates ‘Building the Foundations of Experience’
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