Our Wards - Whiston Hospital - Bevan Court 1 - St Helens & Knowsley Frailty Service Hub
Overview
Bevan Court is the hub of the St Helens & Knowsley Frailty Service, which includes:
- The St Helens Community Frailty Service that provides rapid response and ongoing review of Patients in the St Helens area to support care of patients in their own homes and prevent attendance to the Emergency Department and admission to hospital.
- Bevan Court 1, Ambulatory Assessment Unit – This is where the initial phase of the patients journey may begin. Patients are assessed here by Nursing staff, Therapists, Frailty Practitioners, Consultants and junior Doctors. Based on their assessments patients may be discharged home at this stage or admitted to our Acute Frailty unit.
- Bevan Court 1 – Acute Frailty Assessment Unit (AFU). Based on the ground floor of Bevan Court. This is a ward environment with 16 beds and is for inpatient treatment by the multidisciplinary team. This is designed to address the acute care needs as promptly as possible in order 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 likely due to further assessment needs for therapy and future care after you have been deemed medically fit for discharge.
- The Team
The unit is overseen by the Matron for the Department of Medicine for Older People. 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.
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 multidisciplinary Frailty team.
The Frailty unit also has a dedicated discharge coordinator who will liaise with the multidisciplinary team, patients, carers and health and social care community colleagues to support our patient’s safe discharge.
Medical Team – Bevan 1 have 4 dedicated Consultant Geriatricians who undertake daily ward rounds each week on a rota basis. The Frailty service is supported by a full time Clinical Fellow who specialises in Frailty and Geriatric Medicine and who also provides support to Bevan 1 ambulatory and Acute Frailty Unit.
Advanced Nurse Practitioners - The unit (Bevan 1 & 2) have 4 WTE Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANP’s) that undertake assessment of new patients and daily clinical review of patients on the ward. The ANP’s support the multidisciplinary team in the daily clinical decision making, whilst working closely with the Consultant Geriatrician and the MDT and provide education and support.
Frailty Practitioners – There are 9 Frailty Practitioners who work across the St Helens community and acute Frailty service located on Bevan 1. The Frailty Practitioner undertakes initial patient assessments in the Ambulatory unit, directly providing advanced nursing, diagnostic and treatment.
In the community the Frailty Practitioner contributes to the management of acutely unwell housebound patients or patients in care homes, 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 elderly patients, in order to maximise the benefit and minimize harm. This is undertaken in conjunction with the patient and multidisciplinary team.
We encourage patients and their carers to contact any member of the team if required.
Medical Team:
- Dr M Horner – Geriatrician, Clinical Director & Frailty Clinical Lead
- Dr J Bussin – Consultant Geriatrician
- Dr A Gatignol - Consultant Geriatrician
- Dr R Mason - Consultant Geriatrician
- Dr B Bancroft - Consultant Geriatrician
- Dr J Wildman – Clinical Fellow
The unit also has a compliment of junior Doctors.
Advanced Nurse Practitioners:
- Susan Drennan
- Helen Dobrowolska
- June Hynes
- Hannah Angland
Frailty Practitioners:
- Christine Pennington
- Chloe Maguire
- Emily Simms
- Deborah Collier
- Sandra Norburn
- Panruti Baskaran
- Catherine Singleton
- Contacts
Ward Manager - Courtney Shelmardine - Ext 2745
Matron – Joanne Riley - Ext 7749
Therapy Team Lead - Kirsty Lyon
Therapists - Lisa Worley, Emily Kelley, Dave Thompson
Therapy contact number - 0151 478 7726
Discharge Coordinator - Michelle Row - Discharge concerns, links with social services - 0151 478 7731
- Family
Patients and their family/ carer’s will be actively encouraged to participate in therapy. Members of the Multidisciplinary team will speak with family regarding the patient’s progress and on-going treatment plan.
St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals 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.
- 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.
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.
Where this is not possible we have clothing and a supply of toiletries available.
- Meals and Drinks
Our catering team provide hot meals and drinks are throughout the day. Our set mealtimes are:
- 07:30 – Breakfast
- 12:00 – Lunch
- 17:00 – Evening Meal
We also offer hot and cold drinks and snacks throughout the day.
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 if patients haven’t already.
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 needed 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.
