Fewer patients facing painful procedures in ED
PICTURED: Foundation Doctor Giorgia Appolloni has helped implement a new procedure that looks at limiting the use of cannulas in the Emergency Department.
Morriston Hospital’s Emergency Department is taking action to limit the number of patients undergoing a routine, but uncomfortable, procedure - if it can be avoided.
A new traffic light system for using cannulas has been given the green light. These devices are inserted into a vein, usually in the back of a hand or arm, to take samples or supply liquids.
The new system follows a review within the department which identified almost a third of its patients were cannulated unnecessarily over a 24-hour period.
A poster has been designed to help clinicians make clearer and informed decisions in the fast-paced and pressurised environment of the ED.
Stopping unnecessary cannulation will also reduce the risk of infections and inflammation from the procedure.
It will also deliver financial and sustainable benefits too, with the health board expected to save a minimum of £6,500 a year and reduce its carbon emissions by the equivalent of 22 return trips from Swansea to London in a car thanks to fewer cannulas, which are single use plastic, being used along the packaging its contained in.
This comes as we mark International Day of Zero Waste, observed annually on March 30th, which aims to promote sustainable consumption and production practices and foster a circular economy.
Giorgia Appolloni, Foundation Doctor, is leading the project.
Giorgia said: “The traffic light poster will better inform our clinicians of when a cannula is needed or not and the circumstances where you can wait and decide to cannulate later.
“We are trying to eradicate the ‘just in case’ approach as the results showed that almost a third of patients were cannulated unnecessarily.
“It will eradicate pain inflicted on patients during unnecessary cannulation, along with reducing the potential of inflammation and risk of infections.
“It will also help us reduce our carbon emissions as a health board on top of making savings.
The change is part of the department’s bid to attain bronze status of GreenED, a Royal College of Emergency Medicine initiative to measure and reduce the environmental impact of Emergency Departments in the UK.
Giorgia added: “By working in a healthcare environment the initial focus is always helping patients and making them better, but now I’m thinking of doing that for the environment as well.
“Our emissions as a health board are the same as the whole of Croatia, so we need to address that and every little bit helps.
“We need to be mindful of our practices, and review the effect it is having on our population and environment.”
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