BACK FROM BRITAIN - A COMMITMENT FOR MORE TIME TO CARE

Saskatchewan delegates on a five-day study tour of Britain's Releasing Time to Care: The Productive Ward program are returning with renewed optimism that some straightforward changes will allow more time to spend in face-to-face patient care. The program puts patients at the centre of care and empowers front line staff to make necessary changes to improve patient outcomes.

Representatives from the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association, the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses, the Saskatchewan Association of Licensed Practical Nurses, Saskatchewan Health, health regions, and the Health Quality Council toured a number of hospitals in various stages of program implementation and also received intensive program training.

"As a leadership group, the delegation saw how the British government and the National Health Service is supporting and sustaining successful uptake of the initiative," Health Minister Don McMorris said. "Once we complete the Patient First Review, a number of initiatives will be critical to ensure the system can deliver on the public's expectations. We believe deployment of Releasing Time to Care will align well with the review and what we will focus on."

"This is a ‘must do' program," Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association executive director Donna Brunskill said. "It is about the return to caring: about truly being more available to our patients whom we serve."

"Releasing Time to Care is a powerful program that creates the time and space for LPNs and RNs to focus their expertise and energies on their patients," Saskatchewan Association of Licensed Practical Nurses Executive Director Chris Bailey said. "Our challenge will be to model inclusive implementation which breaks down barriers and truly releases time to care."

"I was very impressed by practical changes that engage frontline workers and create a culture that truly focuses on patient outcomes," Saskatchewan Union of Nurses President Rosalee Longmoore said.

"While Releasing Time to Care is a nursing-led initiative, it must be built and framed around our client, the patient, and his or her needs," Health Quality Council chair Dr. Marlene Smadu said. "Because a variety of health professionals share a role in delivering high quality, safe care we need to make sure that all members of the care team are included in the program."

The next steps will be to prepare for ward implementation in Moose Jaw in October, which will take four weeks, and selection of wards for implementation in the next health regions.

"I'm so excited. We can see a way to really improve frontline care of patients," Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region Senior Medical Officer Dr. Joy Dobson said.

"Building on our current measurement and redesign improvement initiatives, we will be able to demonstrate to the community that staff will spend more time providing the essential care and attention with their patients," Five Hills Health Region interim CEO and Executive Director Clinical Services Cheryl Craig said.

By June 2009, the pilot programs in the first regions will conclude and other regions will begin implementation shortly thereafter.

"This trip has opened our eyes to many opportunities to more quickly advance transformation of the Saskatoon Health Region," Saskatoon Health Region Vice-president, Performance Excellence and Chief Nursing Officer Jean Morrison said. "I am so excited to share this with our team and decide on next steps."

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For more information, contact:
Karen Hill
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: khill@health.gov.sk.ca