Dr Andrew Goddard, Royal College of Physicians registrar, welcomed the publication of the NCEPOD report On the Right Trach?.
He said:
This report is very valuable in highlighting the areas of practice that need to be improved. In particular, it underlines the importance of not transferring patients between wards during the night, and the need for specialist expertise in managing patients with tracheostomies.
The RCP’s Future Hospital Programme recommends that care should come to the patient in future – so healthcare staff with specialist expertise in managing tracheostomies should be available to come to treat patients wherever they are in the hospital, rather than moving the patient.
Training in the management of patients with a tracheostomy also needs to be improved across all relevant health professionals, with readily available equipment, instructions and treatment protocols near the bedside.
Specialists also need to be able to advise on the care of patients with a tracheostomy who are being managed in the community. The RCP agrees that regular audit will help to maintain high standards of care of these vulnerable patients.
For more information, please contact Linda Cuthbertson, head of PR, on 0203 075 1254 / 0774 877 7919, or email Linda.Cuthbertson@rcplondon.ac.uk