Please take part in the #EndPJparalysis70 day challenge
The Chief Nursing Officer for England previews the start of a valuable campaign:
At my CNO Summit last month, I was pleased to announce detail of the largest ever national campaign to get patients up, dressed in their own clothes, and moving to help boost their recovery.
The campaign, #EndPJparalysis aims to get older people back home, as well as for some to their loved ones, living much happier and fuller lives. Making the most of valuable patient time is particularly important – as figures show nearly half of people aged over 85 die within one year of a hospital admission.
Wearing pyjamas for many reinforces the unwell feeling and can prevent a speedy recovery. One of the most valuable resources is patients’ time and getting people up and dressed is a vital step in ensuring that they do not spend any longer than is clinically necessary in hospital.
A recent pilot gave patients back 91,728 days or 250 years’ worth of time across nine trusts in the East of England as a result of getting patients up and dressed. The #EndPJparalysis70-daychallenge sets a bold ambition to have one million patient days captured in just 70 days.
Tomorrow is the first day of our national challenge and I am delighted to see the enthusiasm and engagement with the campaign so far. The 70-day challenge will run from 17 April to 26 June 2018 and finish in time for the NHS 70th anniversary celebrations on 5 July.
It’s easy to get involved and contribute to this important campaign. Download the information pack and resources. You can also download and use a new app that has been created to help track our campaign aim – just search #EndPJparalysis in the app store or google play store. And don’t forget to share your support and fantastic work on twitter, using the hashtag #EndPJparalysis70 day challenge.
I encourage everyone caring for our older patients to help #EndPJparalysis and get involved in the campaign to show the impact we can all individually and collectively make.
Professor Jane Cummings
Professor Jane Cummings is the Chief Nursing Officer for England and Executive Director at NHS England.
Jane specialised in emergency care and has held a wide variety of roles across the NHS including Director of Commissioning, Director of Nursing and Deputy Chief Executive.
In February 2004, she became the national lead for emergency care agreeing and implementing the 98% operational standard. She has also worked as the nursing advisor for emergency care. In January 2005, she was appointed as the National Implementation Director for ‘Choice’ and ‘Choose and Book’.
Jane moved to NHS North West in November 2007 where she held executive responsibility for the professional leadership of nursing, quality, performance as well as QIPP, commissioning and for a time Deputy Chief Executive Officer. In October 2011, she was appointed to the role of Chief Nurse for the North of England SHA Cluster.
She was appointed as Chief Nursing Officer for England in March 2012 and started full time in June 2012. Jane is the professional lead for all nurses and midwives in England (with the exception of public health) and published the ‘6Cs’ and ‘Compassion in Practice’ in December 2012, followed by publishing the ‘Leading Change, Adding Value’ framework in May 2016.
Jane has executive oversight of maternity, patient experience, learning disability and, in January 2016, became executive lead for Patient and Public Participation.
She was awarded Doctorates by Edge Hill University and by Bucks New University, and she is a visiting professor at Kingston University and St George’s University, London.
She is also Director and trustee for Macmillan Cancer Support and a clinical Ambassador for the Over the Wall Children’s Charity where she volunteers as a nurse providing care for children affected by serious illnesses.
Follow Jane on Twitter: @JaneMCummings.