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Shropshire’s two acute hospitals have begun to use a new observation system for children and young people.
The digital upgrade at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) has replaced the traditional paper charts on the paediatric unit at the Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford and in the emergency departments at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and PRH.
They have begun to use the Paediatric Vitals system, which records vital signs using the National Paediatric Early Warning System (known as PEWS), to ensure a standard approach of tracking children’s deterioration. It gives clinicians instant access to charts with real time information from any of the devices within the trust.
Improving care
Julie Plant, divisional director of nursing for women and children’s services, said: “We are one of the first hospitals to use the digital system and this is one of the many steps we are taking to improving the quality of care to our children and young people, and indeed, to support their parents and carers at a time when they are most anxious.
“Staff have worked very hard to ensure the new system was launched smoothly, with minimal disruption and with the involvement of the children, young people and families. I am so proud of what they have done and can only anticipate the impact of how much it is going to improve communication and patient safety.”
The implementation is part of the trust’s ongoing digital transformation programme.
