Case study list

Bro Morgannwg NHS Trust

01/01/2008

The Trust has a real time computer system which it uses to track patients. In April 2005 the system was expanded to include monitoring of expected dates of discharge (EDD). All admissions expected to have an EDD within 24 hours, and nurses are responsible for inputting this. Every patient in the trust is then colour-coded:

Black = exceeded EDD;

Red = leaving today;

Amber = leaving tomorrow;

Green = leaving in two days; or

Blue = leaving in more than two days.

The Trust holds separate weekly meetings in its two main district general hospital sites in Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend to go through lists of potential and actual delayed transfers of care with cases colour coded according to three priority levels.

Discharge Liaison Nurses play a key role in providing information and driving the meetings. There are more problems at present in Neath Port Talbot than in Bridgend (which cares for some patients resident in the Vale of Glamorgan). There is practically no spare nursing home capacity in Neath Port Talbot.

The Trust recently decided to set up a specific ward as the multi-disciplinary team assessment ward with 12 beds. This has enabled multi-disciplinary team expertise to be concentrated. Although this is a recent departure, Trust staff told us that the early signs are good.