Introduction
This essay focuses on the evaluation of care provided to Ms Yasmin Rahman, a 34-year-old woman admitted to Accident & Emergency with severe abdominal pain, a high NEWS2 score of 6, and associated symptoms. The purpose of this analysis, from the perspective of a Health and Social Care NVQ Level 4 student, is to critically assess the effectiveness of the individualised care plan implemented for Ms Rahman. The evaluation will explore how the interventions addressed her physical, emotional, and cultural needs, while identifying areas of success and potential improvement. Key points include the management of clinical deterioration, pain and dehydration control, and long-term emotional support. This discussion draws on established healthcare guidelines and frameworks to ensure a sound understanding of best practices in person-centred care.
Evaluation of Care
The care provided to Ms Yasmin Rahman demonstrates a generally effective approach to addressing her urgent clinical and emotional needs, though some limitations are evident. The immediate response to her NEWS2 score of 6, indicating a high risk of clinical deterioration, was appropriate with hourly vital sign observations and urgent medical review within the hour (NICE, 2021). This aligns with national guidelines on managing potential sepsis, and the use of the SBAR communication tool likely ensured clarity and continuity among the multidisciplinary team. Moreover, interventions to manage dehydration, fever (38.2°C), and nausea—such as fluid balance monitoring and paracetamol administration—were timely and followed the six rights of medication, reducing the immediate risk to her wellbeing within the targeted 24 hours. Pain management also saw initial success, with reassessment planned to reduce her pain score from 9/10 to 6/10 within 4 hours, supported by positioning aids and relaxation techniques.
However, the evaluation reveals gaps in the depth of cultural and emotional support. While efforts to assign female staff respected Ms Rahman’s Muslim background, there is little evidence of sustained engagement with her grief and work-related stress beyond initial referrals to counselling and community services. The plan to involve her sister for emotional support is promising, yet lacks specificity on how this will be facilitated long-term. Additionally, while diagnostic tests were ordered to investigate potential causes like ectopic pregnancy or pancreatitis, the evaluation of their outcomes or follow-up care remains unclear within the immediate timeframe. Overall, the care plan demonstrates a competent response to acute needs but requires further detail on sustained psychosocial interventions to fully embody person-centred care principles (NHS England, 2019).
Implications for Practice
Reflecting on Ms Rahman’s care, it is evident that while clinical interventions were prioritised and largely effective, there is room to strengthen the integration of emotional and social support. Future care plans should include more structured follow-up mechanisms, such as scheduled reviews with mental health professionals to address grief and stress, alongside clearer documentation of diagnostic outcomes. Furthermore, involving family members like her sister could be formalised through specific roles in recovery plans to enhance emotional stability. Indeed, adopting a more holistic approach, as advocated by NHS frameworks, would likely improve long-term outcomes (NHS England, 2019). This evaluation also highlights the importance of continuous professional development for healthcare staff in cultural competence to ensure that religious and personal preferences are not merely acknowledged but actively embedded in care delivery.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the care provided to Ms Yasmin Rahman effectively addressed her immediate clinical needs through timely interventions for pain, dehydration, and potential deterioration, as guided by her NEWS2 score of 6. However, the evaluation identifies limitations in the depth of emotional and cultural support, with insufficient detail on long-term follow-up for grief and stress management. While the plan demonstrates adherence to clinical guidelines, a more holistic integration of psychosocial care is necessary to meet the broader principles of person-centred care. The implications for practice suggest a need for structured family involvement and enhanced cultural training for staff. Ultimately, this analysis underscores the importance of balancing acute medical responses with sustained emotional support to improve patient outcomes and quality of life in health and social care settings.
References
- NHS England. (2019) Universal Personalised Care: Implementing the Comprehensive Model. NHS England.
- NICE. (2021) Sepsis: Recognition, Diagnosis and Early Management. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
