2005 Finalist

St John Friends of the Emergency Department

A programme that helps patients waiting in hospital emergency departments has raised interest overseas, as well as locally.

St John recognised that hospital emergency departments are often so busy there is very little time for nurses and doctors to give people anything more than clinical treatment. This leaves the patient and their families and friends lacking comfort and support. So they created the FEDs (Friends of the Emergency Department) programme.

"FEDs volunteers give their time and care to comfort people in distress, which allows medical staff to focus on treatment and clinical care," says St John Community Care Director Keven Tate.

Emergency departments using the programme report patient complaints have decreased and stress levels in the department have also reduced.

The programme started in Auckland Hospital and now operates in North Shore, Thames, Waikato, Christchurch and Waitakere hospitals. Talks are underway with three more hospitals. The goal is to introduce the programme to all 22 New Zealand hospitals with emergency departments.

Hospitals in Edmonton and Calgary in Canada have adopted the programme as well.

St John
Contact: Keven Tate 09 579 1015
Email: keven.tate@stjohn.org.nz