During the COVID-19 pandemic, with a surge of critically unwell patients requiring ventilatory support, it is anticipated that this may lead of a growing number of patients requiring tracheostomies to support extubation.
Linking with the National Tracheostomy Safety project (NTSP) and their COVID-19 recommendations, the programme aims to work with teams across the acute and community sectors to recognise needs of each team that would help staff to deliver safe tracheostomy care.
To do this, the programme will initially involve working with all local acute teams to adopt and use the following three evidence-based tracheostomy safety interventions;
• Bedhead signs for patients
• Standardised ‘bedside’ tracheostomy emergency equipment
• Standardised tracheostomy daily care bundle
As part of the programmes delivery, a new Tracheostomy Toolkit has been developed by the NTSP and AHSN to support teams across England to adopt and use these safety interventions.
If you are interested in learning more about the programme and the work we are doing, please do not hesitate to contact any of the team by the link below.
