Our Wards - Whiston Hospital - Bevan Court 1 and Bevan Court 2
Overview
Bevan Court (often referred to as ‘The Frailty Unit’) is the hub of Whiston Hospital Frailty Service, which includes:
- The Frailty Service provides rapid response and ongoing review of patients in St Helens and surrounding areas to support care of patients in their own homes and prevent attendance to the Emergency Department and admission to hospital. This encompasses:
- The Community Frailty Team: for complex frailty assessment and management.
- UCR (St Helens Urgent Community Response) is the rapid response for adults over 18 who could potentially avoid hospital admission. Residents living in Knowsley and Halton and other areas have their own UCR service.
- Virtual Ward - for close monitoring and treatment of acute conditions helping avoid an inpatient stay.
- Bevan Court 1- Ambulatory Assessment or sometimes called Frailty SDEC (Same Day Emergency Care). Patients are assessed here by nursing staff, therapists, frailty practitioners, consultants and resident doctors. Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) assessments will address needs and the appropriate next steps. This may be as an inpatient or elsewhere in the community.
- Bevan Court 1 – Acute Frailty Assessment Unit (AFU), is based on the ground floor of Bevan Court. This is a ward environment with 16 beds and is for inpatient treatment by the MDT. This is designed to address the acute care needs as promptly as possible to facilitate community or home care at the earliest possible opportunity.
- Bevan Court 2 – Frailty Reablement and Rehabilitation Unit. This is based on the first floor of Bevan Court. This is a 30-bed unit where admission is based on further assessment needs for therapy and future care. Each nursing team (Bevan 1 and Bevan 2) is led by a Ward Manager.
- The Team
The unit is overseen by the Matron for Frailty. The Matron takes responsibility for delivering the quality and safety of nursing care, along with taking a lead to develop and improve the patient experience. We encourage patients and their carers to contact any member of the team if required.
The Nursing Team – The nursing team is led by the Ward Manager who ensures delivery of a high standard of care for patients and support for staff. Bevan Court 1 have a number of Nurse Coordinators; these are senior nurses who identify patients primarily in our Emergency Department and Acute Medical unit who would benefit from intervention from our Frailty MDT.
The Frailty Unit also has a dedicated discharge coordinator who will liaise with the MDT, patients, carers and health and social care community colleagues to support our patient’s safe discharge.
Medical Team – Bevan Court has 6 dedicated Consultant Geriatricians as well as 2 specialty doctors. These clinicians are specialist both in the acute care of older people and reablement, ensuring that discharge is as timely and well supported as possible.
Advanced Clinical Practitioners - The unit (Bevan 1 and Bevan 2) have 3 Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACP’s) that undertake assessment of new patients and daily clinical review of patients on the ward. The ACP’s support the MDT in the daily clinical decision making, whilst working closely with the Consultant Geriatrician to provide education and support.
Frailty Practitioners – The Frailty Practitioners work across the St Helens community and Ambulatory/SDEC located on Bevan 1. The Frailty Practitioners undertake initial patient assessments in the Ambulatory Unit, directly providing advanced clinical assessments, diagnostics and treatment.
In the community, the Frailty Practitioners contribute to the management of acutely unwell and complex patients living with frailty, liaising with the GPs, Consultant Geriatricians, practice nurses and community nurses.
Therapists (Occupational and Physiotherapists) - Provide a holistic and comprehensive review of all appropriate patients to maintain and improve the patient’s abilities. The therapists provide rehabilitation to support the patients discharge back into the community.Pharmacist - Pharmacists have a key role in optimising medicines for older patients, in order to maximise the benefit and minimise harm. This is undertaken in conjunction with the patient and the MDT.
Medical Team:
- Dr M Horner – Geriatrician, Clinical Director & Frailty Clinical Lead
- Dr J Bussin – Consultant Geriatrician
- Dr A Gatignol - Consultant Geriatrician
- Dr K Walton -Consultant Geriatrician
- Dr A Nawab - Consultant Geriatrician
- Dr R Bancroft - Consultant Geriatrician
- Dr T Jones - Consultant Geriatrician
- Dr J Wildman – Specialty Doctor
- Dr C Green – Specialty Doctor
The unit also has a compliment of resident doctors.
- Contacts
- Ward Manager Bevan 1 - Courtney Shelmerdine / Christina Robinson
- Ward Manager Bevan 2 – Dina Zeelie
- Matron – Joanne Riley
- Therapy Team Lead - Kirsty Lyon
- Therapists - Dave Thompson 0151 478 7726
- Assistant Discharge Coordinators Bevan 1 – Kerry Evans
- Assistant Discharge Coordinators Bevan 2 - Michelle Roe
- Family
Patients and their family/ carer’s will be actively encouraged to participate in therapy. Members of the MDT will speak with family regarding the patient’s progress and on-going treatment plan.
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust supports ‘John’s Campaign’. If a member of your family is your carer, we want your carer to have the right to care for you on our ward if they so wish. We understand that this may not be possible for all patients.
Visiting times are between 10am and 8pm
- Personal Belongings
We encourage patients to be dressed where possible in their own day and night wear. This attire should be comfortable, clean and appropriate for the ward. Where this is not possible, we have clothing and a supply of toiletries available.
Patients do also benefit from having their own toiletries and items which are familiar to them.
We do not allow any fresh flowers or balloons due to infection control.
All belongings are the patients responsibility unless they lack capacity to make a decision about the safekeeping of their property, in which case, relevant processes for this will be followed.
- Meals, Drinks and Special Diets
Our catering team provide hot meals and drinks are throughout the day. Our set mealtimes are:
- 07.30am – Breakfast
- 12.00pm – Lunch
- 5.00pm – Evening Meal
We also offer hot and cold drinks and snacks throughout the day. Families are encouraged to inform staff if the patients have preference in their food choices.
Special Diets
Where required our staff will inform the catering team of any special dietary requirements. Family are welcome to report any concerns to nursing staff.
Where appropriate, it may be that our hospital dieticians makes recommendations and adjustments to patient dietary requirements. Any adjustments made will be communicated to both patient and, where appropriate, family members.
- Discharge from the Ward
Medications: If you require medications upon discharge these will be given to you directly by the ward staff before you leave. Please don't leave without them. It can take a few hours for the Pharmacy Team to prepare your medications, so bear this in mind when you arrange a time to leave.
Outpatient appointments: You and your family will be informed if an appointment has already been made for you or whether or not it will follow you out in the post.
Transport: Please try to arrange your own transport home from the hospital. If you are unable to our ward staff will be happy arrange this for you.
- Suggestions, comments or complaints
We aim to make your stay with us as pleasant and comfortable as possible, and strive to provide the highest quality of care. If you or your family have any suggestions or comments, please discuss them with the ward manager or nurse in charge, or you can discuss them with the Patient Advice and Liaison Service.
Alternatively, please fill our comments and suggestions form available in our wards or download here and hand it to any staff member.
