Communication skills for staff wearing PPE

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) can heighten patients’ fears of isolation and patients being cared for by healthcare staff in PPE can feel vulnerable and afraid. If you haven’t previously met the patient, PPE can also pose a significant challenge to building rapport. In these circumstances, core communication skills, particularly those required to establish and maintain a supportive therapeutic relationship are particularly important. And these skills need to be adapted to circumstances where opportunities to use touch for example, are limited or prohibited. Remember it is both what we say and how we say it that will be remembered.

Guidance

Communication skills for staff wearing PPE guidance

Poster

A guide to communicating while wearing PPE - Poster