Yorkshire Ambulance Service- Supporting Information for Care Providers

These slides are designed as a resourced for care provider staff of all levels, including as training for new starters. They are a useful guide for what to expect when calling 999, 111 and PTS services (including around waiting times, who will take your call, what to mention and what paperwork to have ready) as well when to call each of these.

What is a Pressure Ulcer and Moisture Associated Skin Damage?

To mark International Stop the Pressure Day 2022, colleagues from York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust shared these slides as part of a refresher session- covering the causes of pressure damage, signs to look out for, categorisations, difference between pressure damage and moisture and how we can prevent and respond to them for those in our care. The slides from this session can be accessed through this link.

Awareness of Swallowing Difficulties- Training Video for Care Homes

Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust's SALT team have produced a video training session on awareness of swallowing difficulties. The team provide the community nursing service across the Scarborough, Ryedale, Filey, Whitby and Pocklington patch. This 30 minute video is appropriate for carers and registered nurses, and would also be beneficial to kitchen staff and people who are new to care work. The focus is on awareness of swallowing difficulties and the steps prior to diet and fluid modification, and references the a care home swallowing pack. 

Hypothermia- Recognising and Prevention

As winter approaches and given the rising costs of energy, we are mindful of the risk the hypothermia can pose to the vulnerable in our communities in the coming months. Please find through this link a set of guidance from NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB which may be helpful to providers in recognising and preventing hypothermia for those in your care. It details the most at risk groups, symptoms to watch out for and how to respond should you suspect some has hypothermia.

Working Together to Reduce UTI Prescribing

Work is taking place across to reduce antibiotic prescribing for UTI's and the "Do Not Dip" project. You may see changes in how your GP Practice responds to a UTI building on this work. Further information can be found through the presentation slides, but key messages include:

• If antibiotics are used when they are not really required bacteria can develop resistance. There were an estimated 55,000 antibiotic resistant blood stream infections in the UK in 2020, which can easily spread in care settings. They can also cause harm where used inappropriately, with links to stomach/bowel upside and infections such as C. difficile or MRSA.
• Many older people have bacteria in their urine anyway (around 50% of over 65's and an almost 100% with catheters). A dipstick will detect this and test positive, even if it isn't causing an infection. Practices have been asked to diagnose UTIs based on clinical signs and symptoms in the over 65s and those with catheters rather than using a dipstick test.
• We can work together to reduce inappropriate UTI prescribing, including by giving any antibiotics exactly as prescribed, and not doing a dipstick test or dropping in a sample unless requested by a clinician.

For any questions on this project- Please contact: susanbroughton1@nhs.net

Cooking with Confidence for Dysphagia

A new series of videos are being launched delivered by Nestle in partnership with renowned dysphagia chef Gary Brailsford, to provide support to providers in perfecting textured diet recipes. Across the series they will be providing top tips for preparing and presenting meals for IDDSI levels 4, 5 and 6. From menu planning to ideas on how to change up traditional texture modified potato or present the perfect dessert, they will be covering a range of topics to help you feel confident in getting mealtimes right for those in your care with dysphagia. To view the introductory video please follow this link.

The Social Policy Research Unit at the University of York have developed Getting Informed, Getting Prepared. This is a website features videos and guidance for those looking fund their own their or the care of others, including animations on who to talk around meeting the cost of care and looking for care.

Incidents and concerns involving controlled drugs should be reported to the Local Controlled Drugs Accountable Officer (CDAO). This is in addition to your usual incident reporting processes. Reports to the CDAO are made online at www.cdreporting.co.uk.