NHS Fife: getting it right for our most vulnerable patients

Frailty huddle

In Spring 2015, the hospital introduced a daily frailty huddle in the Medical Admissions Unit. “It is a very busy unit with lots of different professionals working shoulder to shoulder,” said Joy, “we run the risk of a lack of co-ordination in the care of our frail older patients, with potentially harmful consequences. The daily huddle brings together all of the people involved in their care to discuss these patients, what matters to them and how their care should be delivered to achieve the best outcomes”.

The ethos of the frailty huddle is clear, “it is not about bed management and is clinically driven”, it is led by the team and the nurse consultant. In attendance is the geriatrician of the day who sees all frail patients in MAU, the pharmacy team, the clinical co-ordinator and a senior member of the MAU nursing team. Feedback from other boards includes that this is a very inclusive approach, where all members are valued and where there is clear collaborative working from all professionals.