8/12/2019 Dont Choke on It

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Dont Choke On It!Helping Patients Swallow Safely With Dysphagia Awareness Training

Andrea Stroud, Dysphagia Training Coordinator and Nicola Davidson, Dysphagia Training Assistant

Dorset Speech & Language Therapy Service

SafeguardingGood dysphagia management by properly trained staff can minimise the risks faced by patients who may

otherwise be exposed to serious harm from choking or aspirating, both of which have potentially fatal

consequences. This was highlighted by the cases of Rita Smith (1) and Raymond Rees Lewis (2), both of whom

died after untrained staff failed to adhere to Speech & Language Therapy recommendations.

Introducing

The Dysphagia TrainingProject

atients throughout Dorset were receiving

fferent levels of care dependant on the

ysphagia training that their nursing/care

aff received. The Dysphagia Training

roject was set up to provide an equal and

onsistent approach, and has developed a

gh quality training package that was

hortlisted for the National Patientafety Awards 2010.

Why Else Do We NeedDysphagia Awareness

Training?To save the NHS the costs associated

with re-admission to hospital. Training

nurses/carers in general dysphagia

awareness can prevent avoidable

aspiration pneumonia within 2-3 weeks

of discharge.(3)

To prevent patients being placed nil by

mouth unnecessarily

To meet the standards of the InterProfessional Dysphagia Framework (4)

RCP guidelines state that Any strokepatient with continuing problems with

swallowing food or liquid safely should

have carers trained in the identificationand management of swallowingdifficulties.(5)

The TrainingModules

Dysphagia Awareness Training (DAT) - Is

for all healthcare workers caring for

dysphagic patients. Participants investigate

the causes, signs, and symptoms of

swallowing difficulties, and how to manage

these. An insight is gained into what it might

feel like to be a patient through practical

sessions.

DAT Lite -A module specifically for nursinghome staff, provided within the nursing

home, allowing optimum numbers to attend. Water Swallow ScreenA module for

medics and stroke unit nurses. This ensures

that a stroke patients ability to eat and drink

safely can be screened within hours of

admission.

Catering Training - Our new module forcatering staff increases awareness of

texture modified diets, why they are

necessary and what can be done to make

food more appealing to dysphagic patients.

image

Kirstine Davies (Staff Nurse) the

1,000thDAT attendee, with Marie-

Claire Lawson, Speech and

Language Therapist, May 2010.

Excellent Outcomes Substantial increase in attendees

dysphagia knowledge base (6)

Significant rise in attendees

confidence to feed someone with

swallowing difficulties and ensure

they are eating & drinking

appropriately (7)

More staff adhering to Speech and

Language Therapy

recommendations, improving levels of

care (8)

Increase in referrals made by doctors

(9)

Reduction in patient waiting times (9)

More than 1600 staff trained to date

(6)

For enquiries contact Suzanne Shaw, Dysphagia Training Administrator on 01305 213065

alth and Safety Executive [Internet]. [13 March 2014; cited 23 June 2014]; Available from: http://press.hse.gov.uk/2014/uks-biggest-care-home-provider-fined-over-fish-chip-death/2. Western Telegraph

net]. [26 September 2007; cited June 2014]; Available from http://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/1713604.print/3.Heritage M. Enabling Older People to Eat Safely At Home 2002 4. Boaden E,

es S, Storey L, Watkins C. Inter Professional Dysphagia Framework; 2006 5.Intercollegiate Stroke Working Party. National clinical guideline for stroke, 4th edition. London: Royal College of Physicians,

P. 101 6.Dorset Speech & Language Therapy Service, Dysphagia Training Database Reports; 2014 7.Attendee Course Evaluation Forms; 20052014 8. Dorset Speech & Language Therapy Service.

htime Feeding Record Audit; 2008 9. Dorset Speech & Language Therapy Service. New Referral Audit; 2008

One of the best workshops I have attended (45 years of nursing!). This made me moreconfident (feeding someone with a swallowing difficulty) and more aware of the risks of not

doing it properly Very much improved my working practice. (7)