If you are a clinical member of staff and have just scanned a patient’s VIP PASS, here’s what you need to know.
You’re a clinical member of staff and have just scanned a VIP PASS:
The patient carrying this pass has been identified as having a severe and complex procedural anxiety. This patient is under the care of a clinical psychologist and/or a registered Health Play Specialist.
A Personal Procedure Plan has been written with this patient and family. The plan identifies their individual needs and preferences and gives advice to help minimise the potential for further distress. Please ensure you read the patient’s up to date Personal Procedure Plan before attempting any procedures with this patient. The plan can be found on the patient’s PPM+ record by typing ‘Procedural’ in the filter box. The patient’s family may also be carrying a paper copy of the plan.
Thank you for helping us to support our VIP members
What is a VIP PASS?
VIP PASS is the updated version of a support pathway for Children and Young People with severe procedural distress, previously known as Little PALS (Procedural Anxiety Lego). The Little PALS programme was offered to a small group of patients and proved so helpful that it has now been extended and can be offered for children across all medical teams and services at Leeds Children’s Hospital.
The VIP (Very Important Plan) PASS (Procedural Anxiety Support Scheme) replaces Little PALS.
How does it work?
- VIP PASS members will be wearing or carrying a VIP PASS to let clinical teams know that they have severe and persistent procedural anxiety.
- A copy of the patient’s procedural anxiety care plan is on PPM+. Just search ‘procedural’ on the patient’s record to see the most up-to-date plan.
- There is an alert on PPM+ to remind clinical staff of the existence of the plan.
- VIP PASS plans will be updated at least annually to ensure records remain relevant.
- There is a dedicated VIP PASS Team that can link the child or young person with the VIP PASS Pathway and add the alert.
Adding Patients to the VIP PASS Pathway
Children and young people who experience procedural anxiety must be under the care of a Clinical Psychologist or a Registered Health Play Specialist to be eligible for the scheme.
Patients with a severe procedural anxiety should be referred to Paediatric Psychology for therapy via the existing referral process. Patients who are appropriate and meet the scheme’s eligibility criteria will be placed on the VIP PASS scheme.
Please speak to the patient’s consultant to discuss a referral to psychology. If you require further information on the referral process, please contact the Paediatric Psychology office: ext 25143
To make a referral to the Play Service for support with procedures please email: [email protected]
Information for parents
The purpose of the VIP PASS is to alert clinical staff to the existence of your child’s Procedural Anxiety Care Plan. If referred into the VIP Pass programme your child will receive a VIP PASS, lanyard and a paper copy of their plan. These should be carried whenever they visit a hospital.
VIP PASS membership aims to:
- Ensure the most experienced clinician available performs the procedure.
- Respect patient preferences and choices regarding the procedure, whenever this is medically safe to do so.
- Reassure the patient that staff are aware of their fears and wishes.
- Reduce pressure on parents/carers to repeatedly explain their child’s needs.
- Promote positive experiences and rebuild confidence.
If a member of staff is unaware of the VIP programme, they can scan the QR code on the pass to access a brief explanation. Please note: the QR code links to generic information about the VIP PASS pathway, it does not show your child’s details.
Your child’s patient records will also have a procedural anxiety alert, which will be clearly visible to all staff accessing their records. Patient records can only be accessed by staff directly involved in the patient’s care. Therefore, your child’s information regarding their procedural anxiety will only by accessed by staff who need to know how to care for them.
Occasionally staff may not have access to a PC on which to read your child’s plan. Therefore, it will help if you are carrying your paper copy every time you come to the hospital.
Care plan reviews
It is important that your child’s plan is updated regularly. The VIP Team will aim to update plans at least annually.
When an update is due, you will receive a letter or text asking you to contact the Psychology office to let us know if your child still needs to remain on the VIP Pass scheme. If there are no changes needed to your child’s plan the plan will be updated immediately. If your child’s plan needs changing, you will be called back by a Play Specialist from the VIP Pass team as soon as possible. If you fail to call the office by the end of the calendar month, we will assume the plan is no longer needed and the alert will be removed from your child’s patient record.
Please do not hesitate to speak to a member of the play team if you need to make a change to your child’s plan before the annual review is due. They will be able to ask a member of the VIP Pass Team to contact you sooner.