Access to nursing care for every care home resident in Scotland is among 74 recommendations made by the Scottish Government in a new healthcare plan for Scottish care homes.
The plan, My Health, My Care, My Home – healthcare framework for adults living in care homes, comprises six core elements:
- Nurturing environment
- Multi-disciplinary team
- Prevention
- Anticipatory care, supporting self-management and early intervention
- Urgent and emergency care
- Palliative and end of life care
As well as improving access to nursing care – whether employed by the home permanently or as required – the plan calls for a seven-step medication review to be conducted by a pharmacist when residents first move in, and at least annually thereafter, multidisciplinary meetings that involve the care home team, exploring mechanisms to enable care homes to hold a stock of certain drugs within the home and prompt access by the care home team to appropriate medication (including anticipatory ‘just in case medication’ and oxygen) and equipment, such as syringe pumps and pressure relieving mattresses.
Workforce development is also covered by the plan, with recommendations to establish a ‘Care Home Liaison Service’ to support care home team competence, and enhanced leadership training, mentoring and leadership networks for care home managers.
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