Releasing Time to Care

​The Productive Mental Health Ward program is part of the Productive Series (Releasing Time to Care) which is a range of quality improvement products (or ‘toolkits’) designed by the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom. Each product is comprised of a number of documented guides divided into semi-structured modules that instruct and support staff through an improvement program.

There is strong evidence that the Productive Series improves safety, productivity and efficiency within health care settings, particularly hospital environments. The Productive Ward focuses on:

• increasing the amount of time frontline nursing staff spend providing direct care to patients through reviewing and improving ward systems, processes and their environment
• providing safe and reliable care
• improve the experience of staff and patients

The Nursing and Midwifery Office provided 27 units with the opportunity to implement the Productive Ward and Productive Mental Health Ward programs in 2014. The Productive Mental Health ward was subsequently rolled out in 2015 to 41 mental health units.

Since implementation in the pilot units in 2014, positive outcomes have been achieved in various units such as:

• 84% reduction in time wastage in locating forms
• Implementation and weekly reporting of the Consumer Experience survey and the implementation of the carer’s feedback wall
• Medication storage - by reorganising medication boxes - 70% reduction in time wastage in locating medications
• 31% reduction in seclusion
• 14.3% increase in the number of activities provided on the ward
• Introduction of consumer feedback survey
• Nearly 12% in direct care time since Productive Mental Health Ward Program implementation
• Staff reporting that they have more time to engage the consumer, carer’s and family
• Sustaining 80/month in nurse led patient focused group program
• MDT and medical staff involvement in Productive Mental Health Program
• 24% -33% decreased in staff sick leave
• Meeting triage times and a consistently improved NEAT
• Savings of $11,113.20 by changing the chemical used in operating theatre endoscope rooms
• Reduced OH&S and manual handling associated with IV fluids and inpatient unit storage rooms
• Standardised the general set-up of each patient’s locker that resulted in a reduced wastage from lockers on discharge

If you have further questions please contact Michael Peregrina, Principal Advisor Nursing Leadership and Culture - Nursing and Midwifery Office on phone (02) 9424 5783 or email mpere@doh.health.nsw.gov.au.

References

1. NHS Sustainable Improvement Team
2. CareOregon - Releasing Time to Care