Healthcare students asked to support person-centred care initiative

Students who are involved can win a place to meet other students and healthcare experts at the International Forum on Quality and Safety in London in April 2013.

“We all want to be the best in what we do and ultimately provide the best possible care to our patients. But, how do we know if our patients will agree with our idea of ‘best care’?” asks Angela Williams, Senior Lecturer in Nursing, Glyndŵr University and one of the members of the 1000 Lives Plus Faculty supporting the Student Chapter.

“There’s really only one way to know for sure, and that’s by engaging with patients and their families.”

“Understanding the needs of patients and their families is an important priority, but one that is often overlooked when things get busy” says 1000 Lives Plus Faculty member, Dr Aled Jones, Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies, Cardiff University.

“It is often the ‘little things’ that matter most to those we care for and this initiative will leave students with a better understanding of what is important for patients and families”.

 

Lucy Baross, a physiotherapy student at Cardiff University, participated in the 1000 Lives Plus Stories for Improvement work. “My experience of sharing stories was simple and easy to do,” says Lucy.

“I shared my story of going to see a doctor about my sore throat. Communication in every health profession is important and sharing a story really does demonstrate the value of listening to the patients’ point of view.”

 

All students taking part in the campaign are given opportunities to work on projects to enhance patient dignity, collect Stories for Improvement or improve health literacy. By working with their educators and placement mentors, students will be able to test a small change to provide the best possible care to their patients.

When students complete an activity in each section they receive accreditation from 1000 Lives Plus. They will also be entered into a competition to win the opportunity to attend the International Forum on Quality and Safety in London in April 2013.

“At the International Forum, students will learn from and meet experts in healthcare and quality improvement from all over the world,” says Dr Aled Jones.

“Attending the Forum will help any student gain a better understanding of quality and safety, which will be increasingly valuable in their careers in healthcare.”

Further details about the 'Person-Centred Care' campaign are now available online , along with details of the 1000 Lives Plus Student Chapter.