principles into practice network

Emotional Touch Points

Topics covered in this article: Participation & involvement

Craiglea ward, Royal Edinburgh Hospital

Emotional Touch Points is a communication tool which has been designed to assist users and carers to express their wishes and views on their care and to participate more fully in their individual care process. This tool has also enabled individuals to participate in service improvement and development by talking about their experiences of care and how it makes them feel .

This work has been undertaken within Craiglea ward, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, as part of the Leadership in Compassionate Care Programme which uses an action research approach to embed compassionate care in practice.

Earlier research undertaken by staff at Napier university has identified a number of emotional touch points for use with patients in a range of care settings, such as coming into hospital, talking to doctors and nurses, visiting, mealtimes, going home, but each service using this method can use touch points which are relevant to their setting and client group.

Click the links to the right for more information on Emotional Touch Points.

Key benefits  of using Emotional Touch Points 

Guidance for using Emotional Touch Points

Tools - Links to the prepared lists of touch points and emotional words, however feel free to amend or add to these for your own use.

How using Emotional Touch Points has improved practice   

Case Study One of our carers has consented to share their story for the Pip website.

Contact  details should you require any further information on Emotional Touch Points