Lost patient property is a significant and often overlooked issue in hospitals. It not only consumes valuable time and resources but also impacts patient satisfaction and trust. From misplaced personal items like glasses and dentures to more critical belongings such as medical devices and important documents, the repercussions of lost property can be far-reaching. Hospitals need to be able navigate the delicate balance of providing exceptional care while managing the logistical challenges of safeguarding patient belongings.

We recently spoke to a hospital porter about his experience dealing with lost patient property incidents and if our Smartsafe™ property bags would have helped? Porters frequently experience the issue of lost patient belongings first-hand, and are often the people called to search for lost property.

What was your role in the hospital?

“I was a hospital porter at Royal Derby Hospital (part of the University Hospital of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust) for three years. I performed a variety of tasks, including moving patients between departments, relocating their belongings, transferring medications, accompanying them to and from surgery, and transporting patient documents during this period.”

Which departments did you work in?

“I worked in various departments of the hospital, including (surgical) theatres, endoscopy, the hospital’s Medical Assessment Unit, or MAU, the Surgical Assessment Unit (SAU), and the scanning department – which includes ultrasound, x-rays, and MRIs, etc. I also spent some time working in the departure lounge, assisting patients in leaving the hospital.”

What were the main challenges you faced with patient property?

“I was often approached by patients or nurses on behalf of patients whose belongings, including mobile phones, watches, bags, and other items, they had lost in the hospital. I often encountered patients who were looking for medical devices such as hearing aids, walking sticks, glasses, and even false teeth. The most concerning instances were when patients' confidential paperwork and essential drugs were lost.”

“It always shocked me how many items get lost or misplaced in hospitals that are never found and the time taken by porters/nurses to try and find them. It is very time-consuming, to go to every place the patient had been when searching for these items. Most of the time this was when things fell out of pockets and handbags when placed on the back of chairs or next to beds, but items also got lost in transit from the ward to surgery or treatment areas. I and many other staff spent a lot of time searching for patient belongings around the hospital. Sometimes we found them, but a lot of times they remained missing, and a lost property claim needed to be filled.”

What was the impact on patients and staff?

“When a patient's item was lost, patients could get very distressed, thinking that their property would never be found. Losing items such as phones or wallets is frustrating for patients and can be frightening for confused patients, who may mistakenly believe that nurses have taken their belongings. This was especially the case with elderly and vulnerable patients, and with people coming out of surgery who were still sedated and confused. Some patients insisted on looking for the items themselves even though they were bed-bound, which risked injury and meant a nurse needed to spend more time with these patients to ensure they didn’t fall out of their beds.

If a patient lost their dentures, medication, or hearing aid, it could also have a direct medical impact on their health, which made them even more stressed and upset. It was very stressful for the nurses when important belongings and medication went missing, and it took up a lot of time on an almost daily basis.”

Would Smartsafe™ have helped?

“When I worked as a hospital porter, managing and tracking lost patient belongings was always a time consuming task. Smartsafe™ property bags would have been very useful. These bags come equipped with a barcode for tracking, which would have significantly streamlined the process. Instead of spending valuable time searching for misplaced items, I could have quickly scanned the barcode to match the belongings to the correct patient. This efficient system would not only have saved me a lot of time but also provided peace of mind to the patients, assuring them that their property was secure and accounted for. The ability to track items accurately would have enhanced the overall patient experience, reducing stress and confusion during their hospital stay.”

Contact us

To find out more about our Smartsafe™ property bags and how they can help you manage the issue of hospital lost patient belongings in your NHS Trust, please get in touch with TSG today by clicking here.

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