Specialist passport introduced to improve patient care
Date of release: 28 November 2023
A new healthcare passport is being launched for Wolverhampton catheter users as part of an effort to combat complications.
The specialist passport, offered by The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, will enhance communication and catheter care for patients who rely on the devices.
It is hoped the passport will help reduce the number of long-term catheter users in the community as well as reduce infections.
The new passport includes important information for the user, their loved ones, healthcare staff and carers – including details of the purpose of the device and how to look after it.
Catheters are often used when people have difficulty urinating naturally or are undergoing procedures in hospital.
But the devices can provide a route for infection to enter the body and require both regular changes and careful management. The new approach will ensure catheters are used safely and only by people who really need them.
Leigh Dillon, Senior Matron for Adult Community Services, said: “As part of the Trust Catheter Working Group, the team is launching a ‘Catheter Passport’ to help determine a patient’s ongoing management plan for their indwelling catheter if they require one.
“This supports all clinical professionals to have all the key facts relating to the patient and their catheter.
“The main aim is to reduce the number of long-term catheters, raising the profile and promoting clinical staff on reviewing the need of a catheter, by utilising a Trial without Catheter (TWOC) pathway.
“As the passport is a live document, it means you can update it with any changes as and when they happen. It is auditable and will allow you to see who made changes and when.”
Based on Clinical Web Portal, the digital tool is live and is available for clinical colleagues to complete at the point of inserting a catheter, whether it is short-term or long-term. This will then determine different pathways and any challenges with catheterisation that services may need to be aware of, particularly for ongoing management in the community.
The team will be at a stand by Greggs at New Cross Hospital on 30 November to talk about the passport and colleagues will be visiting wards to speak to staff from 27 November.
