Staff are being encouraged to look at ways they can integrate carers along the patient journey.
For many patients and carers, coming to hospital can be a daunting experience, but Nurse Unit Manager for 8D at Royal North Shore Hospital, Jacque Hextall says listening is key to delivering a positive experience.
"It’s so important for clinicians to involve the carer in the patient journey because its helps to deliver the best outcome," Jacque said.
"A lot of us take for granted being able to communicate what makes us uncomfortable or if there’s something that will make us feel better, but some of our most vulnerable patients can’t – that’s where working with their carer is so important."
Jacque said carers usually have a wealth of knowledge about their loved one that can help improve outcomes and make everyone life more comfortable.
"We always talk about treating the whole person and quite often no one knows more about a person than their carer," Jacque said.
"If you’re a nurse, you can see hundreds of patients a week and every single one of those people are unique – not just in diagnosis and treatment but also in what they like and dislike.
"Using this information can help us improve not just the healthcare outcomes of the patient, but also their carer."