A local NHS trust has signed up to an innovative programme to increase the amount of time doctors and nurses spend directly caring for patients.

The Productive Ward: Releasing Time to Care project will see Bradford District Care Trust reviewing all its wards to see how to improve the patient experience.

They will look at meals, shift handovers, medicines and ward rounds to establish how they can be done more efficiently.

Krishnakumar Nair, productive ward project lead at the Care Trust, said: “The programme looks at how we can be more efficient, identifying how information can be made more readily available for staff, and working practices. It’s often the small things that can have a big impact.”

Heather Ward, at the Airedale Centre for Mental Health, Assessment and Treatment Ward and Duchy Court, both at Lynfield Mount Hospital, will kick start the pilot this month.

Jentin James, assistant ward manager at Duchy Court, said: “It will be interesting when we film one another to review what’s working well and where we can make changes for the better.” The programme includes everyone involved with patient care including nurses, catering, domestic, porters, doctors and health care assistants.

Nicola Lees, executive director of operations and nursing, said: “As the programme is based on continual review and implementation, we are anticipating year-on-year benefits. Other Trusts who have rolled out the same programme have seen up to 50 per cent more time spent on direct patient care.”

The Productive Ward will be rolled out across the learning disability and mental health organisation over the next 12 months.