The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn (QEH) Chief Executive, Alice Webster, took the opportunity to use a new specialist piece of equipment to allow her to walk in the shoes of elderly patients as part of a new training programme to improve patient care.
The Care of the Elderly Department at the Trust are running the training sessions using a new frailty suit designed to simulate the conditions of frail patients. The suit gives staff the chance to improve their knowledge, understanding and empathy by experiencing the day to day lives of the patients they are caring for.
The weighted suit is fitted with weighted shoe covers and gloves, all to give the experience of muscle deterioration and how much effort is sometimes required just to go for a little walk. There is also a weighted, opaque visor fitted to the suit with restrictors, again, all to simulate the lack of movement some patients have in their neck as well as the visual impairments patients may have.
Alice Webster put on the suit in a bid to further understand the work of the department and to walk in the shoes of older patients who come through the doors of the QEH. She commented: “It’s very odd to wear the suit for a long period of time. It’s an amazing piece of equipment designed to help us feel how many of our older patients feel.
“It gets uncomfortable not being able to stand up and stretch and you just get more and more hunched over.
“I hope this suit will be a crucial tool for our staff on treating people with dignity. It certainly makes you stop and think, and reminds you to take a look at the person in front of you and their needs. It’s the message we teach through the caring with kindness programme. Don’t just assume, just because you’ve told someone they’ve understood. It’s all about mental frailty as well as physical frailty.”
Rachel Burridge, Consultant Nurse for Care of the Elderly, has spearheaded the training, sharing her knowledge and experiences across the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care System. She has been hosting training sessions with QEH staff who have been able to wear the suit and talk through their experiences.
Leah Edgely, who is the ward manager on West Newton, led by example as the first to try on the suit. Leah said: “The suit is heavy and feels like it’s pulling me forward it’s hurting my back in this position for five minutes, imagine what it feels like all day, every day. I’m hunched over and it’s very difficult to move.”
The frailty suit was donated to the QEH from Health Education England – the suits cost on average £2,000.
Leah was joined by Nursing Degree Apprentice, Tom Edwards who added: “I feel that it is so important that we learn from this experience of what it feels like to be frail. This has made me much more considerate, aware and understanding when it comes to assisting patients with their daily activities.”
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For further information, please contact Communications Team, media.enquiries@qehkl.nhs.uk or 01553 613216.
To download the press pack click here. A film of CEO Alice Webster wearing the suit can be found here.
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