Implementing the productive ward model at acute trusts across London has freed up more than half a million additional hours of nurses’ time to dedicate to direct patient care.

Research from NHS London shows that in the first 12 per cent of London’s hospitals to sign up to the scheme, more than 500,000 extra hours have been released, meaning that ward staff now spend around 13 per cent more time giving direct patient care than in 2007-08.

London’s strategic health authority has invested £10m to run the series of productive schemes - launched by the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement in January 2008 - in 49 hospital trusts, community and mental health settings across London.

NHS London’s chief nurse, Trish Morris-Thompson, said the “fantastic initiative” has given nurses significantly more time to spend with patients.

“Productive ward supports frontline staff in making sure they have time to care for patients, and because of this there is now a real momentum in London to enhance the care experienced by patients and transform the experience of being a nurse,” she said.

From Nursing Times.

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