Medical Devices and Acute Pain Team Improving Patient Outcomes
Effective analgesia or pain relief is crucial to patient outcome following surgery or trauma, to ensure comfort and to aid rehabilitation.
Local Anaesthetic (LA) infusions for the management of acute pain in trauma patients and more recently groups of post-operative surgical patients have been implemented in the Trust. Local Anaesthetics are a key part of acute pain management and has benefits of reduced strong pain-relieving drugs requirement and consequently a reduction in opioid related side effects.
Local Anaesthetic catheter insertion to enable the infusion relies on skilled clinicians and the Medical Devices Team along with the Acute Pain Team have been training nursing staff on Ward 223 to ensure staff have an understanding of both the theory and practical aspect.
Advanced Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Lead for the Acute Pain Service Lotta Blake-Jansson focuses on the theory and competence of knowledge surrounding LA infusions and Mandy Wilkes, Medical Devices Trainer develops and assesses competence with the infusion device.
Despite the pandemic ward 223 have managed to support their staff to receive the training package and are 100% complaint ,meaning as a cardio thoracic ward they can lead the way to take patients with the LA infusions improving patient outcome.
Lotta Blake-Jansson said: “This demonstrates the good work that has been going on during the pandemic but also raise awareness of Local Anaesthetic infusions and the positive impact it has on patients.
“Nursing , medical and other disciplines use a wide variety of infusion devices on a daily basis to deliver safe and effective care and to minimize risk to our patients , it is important that all staff are trained and competent with all the devices they use.”
Mandy Wilkes added: “My role sits within Quality, Safety and Compliance and the monitoring of compliance, planning and facilitating medical device training is a fundamental part of my role.
Collaborative working is essential especially when a new device is being launched, this ensures staff are receiving a structured, streamlined approach to training that incorporates both theory and practise. The Local anaesthetic training is a prime example of how collaborative working has excellent benefits for both staff and patients.”
The Bodyguard 595 infusion device is specifically for Local Anaesthetic infusions and is for the management of acute pain in Trauma patients and more recently groups of post-operative surgical patients.
If you require more information or training on Local Anaesthetic infusions please email