Older Persons Team

Enhanced Nurse Support Team

The aim of the enhanced support team (EST) is to provide a service to in-patient areas

that supports the current nursing care given. 

It provides enhanced support to patients with a wide variety of medical problems including

dementia, delirium and frailty. 

The EST ensures the safety of patients whilst simultaneously providing interventions to

minimise distress or risk of harms caused by being in the hospital environment.

The EST is made up of a group of specially trained Healthcare assistants led by our Matron.

If a patient is identified as needing enhanced nursing support (previously known as 1 to 1) a referral is made to our team (or the on site matron out of hours).  We would then provide continuing support and assessment of the continued need on a daily basis.

The patient will be reviewed by ourselves and members of the senior nursing team.  We will then allocate a member of the EST depending on highest clinical need, patient safety and staff availability.

Duties of the EST HCA:

• Individualised essential care

• Observations

• Talking to and engaging with the patient: providing reassurance, orientation and providing therapeutic interventions e.g. walking, reminiscence.

• Liaise with relatives/carers and involve them in the care provided including completion of the ‘This is Me’ document.

• Liaise with the MDT and qualified nurse regarding specific care needs.  Provide a full verbal handover to the person taking over care including changes/triggers/care needs.

• Provide consistency of care by following the patient on their journey to other areas.

• Provide a level of support beneficial to the patient which may include going outside, playing a game etc.

• Complete the Enhanced Care Bundle (minimum of hourly).

• The HCA may be providing support 1:1, 1:2 or to a cohort of patients.

• ALWAYS work under the guidance of the qualified nurse responsible for the patient.