Vistamatic Supports Patient Hygiene and Dignity

Monday, 23 November 2009 10:43

Historically, hospices were places of rest and recovery for weary travellers.

The role of a hospice in modern times has changed and St Wilfrid’s Hospice in Chichester provides a range of services including in-patient care, support for carers and families, bereavement services and a place for end of life care. The latter represents a difficult time for both the patient and their families. Privacy and discretion are essential if a patient is to retain their dignity; hygiene is paramount to prevent the spread of infection in already vulnerable people. The installation of Vistamatic’s Secure Vision Panels has enhanced both the in-patients environment and made controlling the spread of infection easier for the staff of St Wilfrid’s.

St Wilfrid’s was purpose built in 1987, when the site was largely cleared by volunteers, and subsequently extended in 1990. The hospice was set up by local GPs, faith groups and other professionals to provide end of life care to people on a more personal basis than was available through the NHS. The hospice supports up to 210 people in the local community at any one time and 89.5% of its £4.3 million running costs come from public support.

The hospice recently had a refurbishment to some of its doors and vision panels. The purpose of this was to give the patients and their families more privacy while enabling the nursing staff to carry out observation with minimal intrusion or disturbance to the patient. Previously there were blinds on the inside of the doors but these were cumbersome and often meant the patient was disturbed unnecessarily.

Vistamatic’s Secure Vision Panels have been fitted across ten in-patient rooms with an additional installation in the chapel of rest. The handles on the panels are on the inside of the doors and are there to give patients and their families the choice of privacy, rather than simply for observation as with other installations. The panels serving the chapel of rest indicate whether the chapel is in use and allow family members privacy.

The installation has benefitted the patient, their families and the nursing staff. The nursing staff described the panels as robust, reliable, discreet, quick and easy.