React Homecare
CC37 – Medical Emergency Policy and Procedure
1. Purpose
1.1 Deterioration in acutely unwell Service Users can happen quickly and have catastrophic effects. The purpose of this policy is to ensure that staff at React Homecare have access to the best practice framework to aid monitoring and be able to respond in a timely manner.
1.2 This policy dovetails with other relevant policies and procedures and so must be referred to for further guidance and standards. These include:
Diabetes Policy and Procedure
Choking Policy and Procedure
First Aid Policy and Procedure
End of Life Care Planning Policy and Procedure
Resuscitation Policy and Procedure
1.3 To meet the legal requirements of the regulated activities that React Homecare is registered to provide:
The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014
The Medical Devices Regulations 2002
2. Scope
2.1 The following roles may be affected by this policy:
o All staff
2.2 The following service users may be affected by this policy:
o Service Users
2.3 The following stakeholders may be affected by this policy:
o Family
o Advocates
o Representatives
o Commissioners
o External health professionals
o Local Authority
o NHS
3. Objectives
3.1 To provide a clear framework for a coordinated approach for:
Identifying any deterioration in Service Users
Identifying the next steps to managing the emergency situation
Working within own realms of competence and in accordance with Codes of Conduct
Standardising practice for Care Workers in the detection of deterioration with the aim of preventing further deterioration in Service Users
4. Policy
4.1 All Care staff at React Homecare will ensure that Service Users receive appropriate, high-quality care and respond to emergencies in a calm, professional and timely manner. React Homecare will ensure that all Care Workers understand their duty of care.
4.2 React Homecare will support and train staff to deal effectively with medical emergencies.
4.3 Care Workers are responsible for:
o Complying with the standards in this policy
o Documenting their findings in the Service User's records
o Attending training as per the training matrix at React Homecare
The Registered Manager is responsible for ensuring that:
o All relevant staff in the service are working within the standards of this policy
o All staff have access to appropriate monitoring equipment
o Care Workers at React Homecare have access to the other suite of policies and procedures for the safe management of medical conditions that are known to potentially put Service Users at risk of deterioration
5. Procedure
5.1 All Care Workers will have an awareness of Service Users at React Homecare who may be at a higher risk of deterioration or complications. This includes but is not exclusive to:
o Service Users recently transferred from hospital or discharged
o Service Users with chronic conditions, e.g. COPD, heart failure, diabetes or dementia
o Service Users who are slow in responding to treatment
o Service Users being treated for an infection
o Service Users with pressure ulcers
o Service Users with severe acute illness
o The frail/elderly
For these groups of Service Users, Care Workers will offer a higher level of observation and respond to any non-emergency changes in condition by contacting the Service User's GP in a timely manner.
Where possible, React Homecare should consider the use of early warning systems to guide Care Workers with the action that needs to be taken.
For Service Users with long-term conditions or multiple comorbidities where the likelihood of deterioration is higher, there will be a documented plan detailing how to minimise or prevent further deterioration. This must include an escalation process to follow during office hours and out of hours.
5.2
Responding to a Medical Emergency
In the event of a medical emergency, trained Care Workers will assess and respond to the Service User within their own limits of competence, training
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and experience. React Homecare will ensure staff are made aware of any local policies and procedures in relation to action required in the event of a medical emergency.
6. Definitions
6.1
Care Certificate Standards
The Care Certificate is an identified set of standards that health and social care workers adhere to in their daily working life. Designed with the nonregulated workforce in mind, the Care Certificate gives everyone the confidence that these workers have the same introductory skills, knowledge and behaviours to provide compassionate, safe and high-quality care and support
Standard 13.4
states
The worker should be able to
o Understand procedures for responding to accidents and sudden illness
o List the different types of accidents and sudden illness that may occur in the course of their work
o Describe the procedures to be followed if an accident or sudden illness should occur
o List the emergency first aid actions they are and are not allowed to carry out
5.3
Procedure for Responding to an Emergency Situation
Step 1
The attending Care Worker who discovers the Service User will assess for any immediate danger and then raise the alarm and request help. Within the realms of their competence, they will begin to assess the severity and nature of the emergency.
Step 2
The Care Worker must telephone 999 or the GP and seek advice on the appropriate action to take. The Care Worker will stay with the Service User until advised that they can leave. The Care Worker will contact React Homecare as soon as possible to inform them of the situation.
Step 3
Care Workers will ensure, where it is likely a transfer to acute care is needed, that medication information and any other relevant Care Plans are ready for transfer with the Service User.
Step 4
When safe to do so and in a timely manner, all emergency action will be documented in the Service User's visit notes immediately following the incident.
Where the incident is notifiable, the Registered Manager will ensure that the relevant statutory notification form is completed and submitted to the Care Quality Commission.
5.4
Medical Emergency Equipment
Where emergency equipment is in use, Care Workers must be trained to use this safely. All equipment must be in good working order and ready for use. Trained Care Workers will refer to the Management of Medical Devices Policy and Procedure at React Homecare for further advice.
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Staff will check emergency equipment at least weekly to ensure it is fit for purpose and ready for use. This information must be recorded for audit purposes.
5.5 Training and Education
React Homecare will make posters and resources available for how to respond in an emergency to some of the key risk areas for Service Users, such as falls, choking, hypoglycaemic episodes, epilepsy, etc.
Basic life support (BLS) and how to respond to emergency situations as defined in the Care Certificate will be provided. This will be recorded on the training matrix.
For all new Care Workers, React Homecare will follow the Care Certificate and completion will be documented.
All Care Workers must understand how to respond in an emergency, which includes:
o Knowing when and how to call for help
o Knowing how to access equipment
o Knowing how to communicate to other healthcare professionals
5.6 Audit and Evaluation
Every emergency situation will be reviewed by the Registered Manager to reflect on practice and identify any learning which can be introduced as a means of quality assurance. Ideally, this will be delivered as a group supervision and recorded as such on the supervision matrix.
The Registered, as part of evaluating emergency situations, will offer staff who may be distressed due to the situation, support and reassurance.
7. Key Facts – Professionals
Professionals providing this service should be aware of the following:
Deterioration can occur at any stage of a Service User's treatment or illness, although there will be certain periods during which a Service User is more vulnerable, such as at the onset of illness or during medical interventions
Service Users who are at risk of deteriorating will be identified before a medical emergency occurs by monitoring changes and reporting concerns
In the event of a medical emergency, time is of the essence and you must act with competence in a calm and efficient manner
There are various tools available to help identify early warning signs and to support clear and effective communication when partnership working. It is recognised that good communication is essential in a medical emergency and an example of a good communication tool is the SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) communication tool
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8. Key Facts – People affected by the Service
People affected by this service should be aware of the following:
Service Users will receive care at all times from competent and knowledgeable Care Workers
If a Service User's condition changes, Care Workers will respond quickly to ensure that the Service User receives the right treatment at the right time
People living with a long-term condition must discuss how they would like their care delivered in the event of an emergency. Care Workers will be on hand to help with this
9. Outstanding Practice
To be ‘outstanding’ in this policy area you could provide evidence that:
Training matrices are up to date and reflect sufficient numbers of staff, who are trained to respond to emergency situations
All emergency events are reviewed to reflect on practice and identify if any changes in practice are needed
Themed audits benchmark staff awareness of this policy and its procedures
Classroom based training takes place, so all staff are ready to respond, know their role and can deliver care calmly and professionally
Date Policy Reviewed
24th June 2015
20th July 2016
4th July 2017
31st December 2019
6th January 2021
21.11.24
Signature of Reviewer
D Woolley
D Woolley
D Woolley
D Woolley
D Woolley
C Ellis