Safeguarding Older People in ED and Urgent Care Setting

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Safeguarding Older People in the Emergency Department and Urgent Care Settings: An exploration of the experiences, knowledge and training needs of Healthcare Professionals working in these settings.

  • IRAS ID

    184882

  • Contact name

    Kelly Waterfield

  • Contact email

    kelly.waterfield@nnuh.nhs.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 6 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    This project aims to explore NHS healthcare professionals experience and knowledge of safeguarding issues relating to older people presenting to the Emergency Department and urgent care settings of acute Trusts in the East of England. For the purposes of this project, urgent care setting is defined as any department or ward that accepts direct acute admissions of older people (>65yrs). This could be a Medical Assessment Unit or an Older People's Medicine ward that accepts direct GP admissions. By healthcare professionals we mean any individual working in the settings described who has significant contact with patients and may be involved in identifying safeguarding issues. This involvement could be through direct interaction with patients and their family or carers or through observations they make.

    The project also aims to gain insight into the training healthcare professionals receive and the usefulness of that training to enable them to deal appropriately with safeguarding related issues. 12 Trusts across the Eastern region have been selected as the study team have good links across this area.

    The project consists of two Phases. Phase I comprises a survey questionnaire. The survey will be disseminated via a web link in an email to relevant staff working in the departments/wards under investigation. Data collected from the survey will be analysed using analytical methodology. Approximately 20 participants per site will be recruited.

    Phase II will comprise qualitative interviews carried out with key individuals identified from each Trust. These individuals will include safeguarding leads, Consultants and Registered Nurses working in the settings under investigation. Approximately 2-3 individuals per Trust will be recruited. Interviews will be conducted either face to face or by telephone. Data collected from the interviews will be audio-recorded then transcribed verbatim and analysed by the study team using thematic analysis.

  • REC name

    N/A

  • REC reference

    N/A