Amy Matthews Affected person Advocacy Liaison Officer MRHT
Amy Mathews commenced in her position because the Affected person Advocacy and Liaison Companies Co-ordinator in Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore in June final. It is a not too long ago established position inside the hospital and acts as the primary contact between sufferers, their households, carers and the hospital.
This position ensures that the affected person voice is heard both by means of the affected person straight or by means of a nominated consultant and promote a tradition of encouraging sufferers to share their expertise and strategies and act as a catalyst for service enchancment. Amy sits on a number of hospital committees to make sure that the affected person voice is integrated into any discussions, selections or enchancment methods.
With a background in Radiation Remedy and having labored in each personal and public hospitals in Eire and New Zealand, Amy has gained helpful expertise working with sufferers and their households and collaborating with sufferers to implement service enhancements.
Her position is accountable for selling a patient-centred ethos within the hospital. It goals to focus on the significance of creating sufferers empowered to share their experiences and change into concerned in their very own healthcare. She is going to present help for sufferers with speaking their suggestions, delivering info on their care in a language they’ll perceive, tackle any issues or points with the care offered and supply help with the formal grievance course of.
Amy describes her days as “being diversified and that no two are ever the identical. At occasions my position is a reactive one. I obtain calls and emails from sufferers, households and workers to supply help to sufferers when vital. When somebody is sick and is in a hospital, they’ll really feel very weak. It’s a very worrying and irritating expertise for that particular person and their family members. They might be confused and not sure of what’s taking place.
“Assist could be wanted to assist them perceive their medical situation or remedy choices and plans. Moreover, help could also be wanted if they’re sad with the care they’re receiving. In these instances, it could be vital for me to hyperlink in with the related workers, voice the sufferers issues on their behalf and facilitate household conferences. It is crucial that issues and queries are recognised and responded to.
“The HSE has an open disclosure coverage which implies that we should talk with sufferers in an open, trustworthy, well timed and clear method. It’s important that sufferers obtain compassion and good communication whereas within the hospital setting. Individuals always remember about how we make them really feel. How folks really feel about their interactions in a hospital is usually a lasting reminiscence. It is crucial that we attempt to create constructive affected person experiences,” she mentioned.
This new appointment will even work in direction of actively enhancing sufferers expertise within the hospital. Amy states: “I work together with my colleagues to establish gaps within the service we offer and assist fill these gaps with the purpose to enhance the affected person expertise in Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore. It’s my precedence to make sure that any service enchancment is patient-centred. Affected person suggestions varieties and submit bins are positioned outdoors every ward and in different areas all through the hospital. I encourage sufferers to fill these out so we will discover out what sufferers consider we have to enhance on. Typically it’s the small modifications that make an enormous distinction to enhancing a affected person’s expertise.”
Catriona Mc Donald, Basic Supervisor, Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore said: “The first function of the PALS workplace is to function a key level of contact between sufferers, their households and their carers with our Hospital. It is among the new key initiatives we’re actively rolling out to enhance sufferers experiences. We look ahead to seeing the constructive impression that the addition of this new position will deliver for sufferers with the availability of confidential recommendation, help and knowledge on health-related issues going ahead.”
You will need to be aware that if a affected person at Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore has a well being drawback or concern they need to discuss to their physician, nurse or a member of workers within the clinic, ward or division first. They’re one of the best folks to elucidate their medical situation, remedy or medical process. Nonetheless, if a affected person doesn’t really feel comfy voicing their issues to the workers taking care of them or their issues can’t be resolved at native degree, then they need to contact the Affected person Advocacy and Liaison Companies Co-Ordinator.
