"Nursing Care supporting independence"

Both my mother and father were in and out of Liberton Hospital a couple of years ago before they died elsewhere. The care was reasonably good with excellent communication via email with some of the consultants. which was such a help as a relative. When we used to visit them they were usually sitting beside their beds with their table in front of them- but will all their belongings tidied away. They never had access to their book, glasses, tissues and sometime their bell etc.

Both had difficulties with their mobility. I am a nurse myself and would always leave my patient with what they needed in easy reach so this used to really frustrate me as it was not leaving them as independent as they could have been and would have given the staff more work in the end fetching their belongings when/if they had time.

Gaun Yersel Scotland's Self Management Strategy states that

"Self Management is an individual’s responsibility but they must be

given ...support to self manage" (page 50)

At a very basic level this is a self management issue to keep their independence in hospital successfully