Healthcare leaders have published a guide of ways to improve patient care that do not need any money from the Chancellor.
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) came up with the tips to boost care and team morale.
Healthcare leaders have published a guide of ways to improve patient care that do not need any money from the Chancellor.
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) came up with the tips to boost care and team morale.
It teamed up with health bodies including Health Education England and NHS Improvement as well as the Kent Surrey and Sussex Ambulance and Bradford Royal Infirmary to create the guide. The RCP’s clinical and professional affairs director Dr Andrew Goddard tweeted: ‘No money from Mr Hammond needed for these to help improve patient care and team morale.’
He added: ‘Great teams make for a great job.’
Jocelyn Cornwell, the chief executive of the Point of Care Foundation which also collaborated with the RCP said: ‘Staff and patient wellbeing are inextricably linked, and research shows that how staff feel at, and about, their work is the precursor to good patient education.’
They looked at four areas to make teams work well together. They are building teams, team culture, communcation and team development.
Tips for building effective teams needs include leadership, clear roles and responsibilities for staff and creating a supportive team dynamic.
The RCP said: ‘Such ‘dynamics’ are wide-ranging but include setting common goals, and formalising expected team behaviours.’
It recommended boosting team culture by encouraging people to ask for help when they need it, celebrating their success and contributions, promoting openness and honesty and challenging unprofessional behaviour.
It also looks at ways to prevent workplace bullying.
The section on communication includes tips on effective briefing and debriefs and creating a safe environment for people to raise any concerns.
Tips on team development looks at meetings, goal setting and reviewing performance to help everybody work well together.
The report follows last year’s survey of junior doctors’ experiences which highlighted how trainees suffered from low morale and felt disengaged, partly because of team breakdown.
The RCP said: ‘The NHS relies on teams to design, deliver and develop world-class patient care.’
It said effective team work helps to reduce errors.
It added: ‘Crucially, it also leads to reduced stress and higher job satisfaction.’
