Children’s Hospice Southwest (CHSW) delivers exceptional hospice care to children and young people with life-limiting conditions, extending support to their entire families.

With three hospices—Little Bridge House in Devon, Charlton Farm in Somerset, and Little Harbour in Cornwall—CHSW has been a beacon of comfort and care for many families.

“This was a great training day to refresh tracheostomy knowledge but also pitched right for people that are new to tracheostomy care.”

Enhancing tracheostomy skills

To continue offering the highest standard of care, CHSW partnered with First Option Clinical Education (FOCE) to develop and implement specialist tracheostomy training for their staff.

CHSW sought to enhance the tracheostomy care skills of their staff uniformly across all locations, regardless of their previous experience with in the subject.

A great blend of theory and practice

FOCE delivered a full day of training at each of the three hospice locations. The training sessions were comprehensive, blending theoretical knowledge with practical skills.

They covered all aspects of tracheostomy care, including anatomy and physiology of the respiratory tract, tracheostomy changes, identifying signs of deterioration, and managing emergencies.

Positive feedback from CHSW staff

The training was met with overwhelmingly positive feedback from the staff at CHSW.

Participants appreciated the detailed anatomical explanations and the practical, hands-on approach, which allowed them to apply their learning in real-time. Despite many staff members considering themselves knowledgeable about tracheostomy care, they found the training valuable for both refreshing and expanding their skills.

“This was a great training day to refresh tracheostomy knowledge but also pitched right for people that are new to tracheostomy care.”

“I found the session really, really useful. The trainer was fantastic – I loved his positive, friendly, enthusiastic attitude. The interactive nature of the session and the way in which it was delivered kept me engaged.”

“This course exceeded expectations of a ‘trachy day’! Most approachable presenter – patient, kind, and so knowledgeable. Information topics were appropriately organized and will be most useful with my trachy care clients.”

Upholding a commitment to exceptional care

The collaboration with FOCE has enhanced the capability of CHSW staff to provide top-tier tracheostomy care. By ensuring all team members are equally skilled and knowledgeable, CHSW continues to uphold its commitment to put children, young people and families at the centre of all they do.