‘Caring around the clock’: a new approach to intentional rounding

Abstract

Intentional rounding is a widely debated topic and, in this article, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust shares its experience and learning from implementing an innovative approach based on the process across 79 wards. The authors look at the need for education and for cultural shift to achieve the best results. The issue of intentional rounding was raised in 2012 by prime minister David Cameron, who responded to a report of failings published by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (2011) by announcing that all nurses would be expected to do hourly rounds to improve care. The need for the process has been demonstrated further in the recommendations from the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry (Francis 2013).