About the podcast
In this edition of ThePTN’s podcast David Ashton-Cleary takes point on patient transfer as the depty lead consultant for Retrieve; the critical care transfer service for the South West.
He discusses the clinical drive to standardise the practice of critical care retrieval and the role the referring team play in the care of these patient. The podcast moves through the entire transfer process, from referral to critical care transfer, through to in-transit preparation and finally through to reception at the final destination.
See links below to the Retrieve website, referral SOP, checklist and Scott Grier’s paper review of the critical care transfer service in the region. Though some of this information is beyond the scope fo the NMTNG competencies, a thorough understanding of transfer processes and handovers is core knowledge for all staff. Level 1 and 2 competencies covered listed in the show notes.
Retrieval – ThePTN podcast
Learning areas covered:
Act as part of a team in the safe transfer of a patient:
- The nurse/AHP can demonstrates an
understanding of the principles of safe transfer within the hospital such as theatres, radiology, interventional radiology, critical care or a ward - The nurse/AHP can demonstrates an understanding of secondary transfer protocols to another hospital that has specialist expertise: such as an MTC, burns unit, spinal centre, etc. (where applicable)
- Has an awareness of the key personnel who should accompany the patient
- The nurse/AHP has an awareness of the secondary transfer policy and procedures and can identify key equipment which should be taken on transfer where applicable
- The nurse/AHP can perform a structured handover at the destination (where applicable) and has an awareness of the transfer documentation
Links:
Retrieve: Adult critical care transfer service website – https://retrieve.nhs.uk/
Referral to Retrieve SOP link.
Retrieve preparation for transfer checklist link.
Grier S, Brant G, Gould TH, von Vopelius-Feldt J, Thompson J. Critical care transfer in an English critical care network: Analysis of 1124 transfers delivered by an ad-hoc system. J Intensive Care Soc. 2020 Feb;21(1):33-39. doi: 10.1177/1751143719832175. Epub 2019 Mar 4. PMID: 32284716; PMCID: PMC7137162. Link.
PTN automatic Acceptance and Discussion Guide: here
SW Paediatric Major Trauma Networks Acceptance, Transfer & Repatriation policy here.
Guidelines for the Inter- and Intra-Hospital Transfer of Critically Ill Adult Patients here.
South West UK Burns Network guidance including referral criteria for transfer here.
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