Sit and See

in an Acute Hospital Setting

Allison CannonAssociate Director of Safeguarding Adults

at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals

Definition of an Acute Hospital

Short-term medical treatment, usually in a hospital, for patients having an acute illness or injury or recovering

from surgery

Care in the NHS

A recurring theme in most investigations into neglect in the NHS indicates that low level concerns about the quality of care and compassion were evident, but were not noticed until large scale concerns were identified and investigated

What we expect from all Staff

At BSUH we expect all front line staff to hold the skills

to confidently recognise and effectively manage

situations where they suspect a person in our care is at

risk of harm, abuse or neglect, including poor practice.

This is done the use of the sit and see, mandatory training and staff development.

Brighton & Sussex University Hospital“Our everyday practice”

Trained over 40 people in “sit and see”

Used as a tool to support staff look at their ward

Used when there are concerns raised about areas.

Case Studies

• Ward X

• Complaints

• Safeguarding Alerts

• Staff raising concerns

  Positive Passive Poor

General Care (Domain A)431

(82%)79 (15%) 22 (4.%)

Patient/ Visitor Engagement (Domain B)

565 (87%)

63 (10%) 18 (3%)

Infection prevention and control (Domain C)

293 (86%)

  47 (14%)

Environment clean and tidy Call bells given to patients Offered extra blankets to keep warm Pain relief given quickly Patients asked what they would like to be called Patients offered choice of food Evidence of staff undertaking the principles of the mental capacity act. Documentation of the need for 1;1 nursing evident Patients being assisted with toileting Blanket placed over patient to ensure privacy and dignity. Observed all patients in a bay being assisted with feeding. Visitors greeted on arrival Protected meal times observed Good explanations of why certain procedures needed to be taken Evidence of comfort rounds being undertaken nice discussion between staff and patients Bins emptied

Linen trolley need to be emptied. Patient with dementia bed was pumped up high whilst cleaner cleaned under left in the air whilst other beds cleaned under.Limited natural light.Linen left on the top of lockers. Food not cut up appropriately.student nurse observed not talking to patients.spillage ignored by staff.patients pain ignored told must be hungry.patient told to “hang on”.no eye contact with patients.

Cluttered bedside tablesDrinks out of reach Patients placed on commodes instead of being wheeled to the toiletCurtains not fully closedNurse didn’t speak to patient whilst administrating iv drugsPatient dressed in a urine gown which had previously had urine spilt on itRubbish left on the floorHand gel not always usedDr came and interrupted conversation between nurse and patientTechnician ignored patient when patient asked what she was doing..Not referring to patients by name Hot drinks which have gone cold drinks left on table for long period of time.Unit very noisy

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

― Maya Angelou

For further information on Safeguarding at

Brighton & Sussex University

Hospitals contact: Allison Cannon on

01273 696955 ext 4740