Communication with patients on hospital wards
We visited 9 hospital wards at UHCW to find out how staff adapt communication to meet the needs of patients
We carried out visits to 9 wards at the University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire site in Walsgrave, Coventry.
We talked to patients and staff and made observations to understand how the communication needs of patients who have hearing or visual impairments or who do not speak English are met.
We found:
- Variation in availability and awareness of resources to support communication with patients on wards
- Staff of many roles and relatives doing translation
- Inconsistency in support for people with hearing loss and a lack of resources to help
- Lack of clarity about the role of Learning Disability Liaison Nurses
- Issues with quality of communication about planning for discharge
