GB2335391A - A residential care monitoring system - Google Patents

Abstract

The system comprises a first form 10 (Fig 1A) and a second form 126 (Fig 2A) for recording information concerning a patient. Form 10 comprises regions 12,14,16 for recording the name of the patient and the name and address of the patient's general practitioner. Form 126 comprises regions 134,144,154 for recording information including the progress of the patient. The forms may be held in a binder, file or wallet (Figs 7-11).

Description

1 Care Monitoring Systems 2335391 This invention relates to care

monitoring systems, for example for use in nursing or residential homes.

The care of residents or patients in residential or nursing homes, or of clients in the community, is an ongoing activity which requires the recordal of a large number of factors. Present systems for the recordal of these factors are unsatisfactory, in that there is little continuity between them.

It is an object of the invention to obviate or mitigate this disadvantage.

As used hereinafter, the word "patient" is intended to cover patients, residents or clients.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a care monitoring system, said system comprising first recordal means for recording first information concerning a patient, and second recordal means for recording second information concerning the patient; the first recordal means comprising a plurality of first regions, each first region being so provided for recordal of the first information, including the name of the patient, and the name and address of the patient's general practitioner; and the second recordal means comprising a plurality of second regions for recordal of the second information including the progress of the patient.

According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a residential care monitoring system for use in a residential home, said system comprising first recordal means forrecording first information concerning a resident, and second recordal means for recording second information concerning the resident; the first recordal means comprising a plurality of first regions, each first region being so provided for recordal of the first information, including the name of the patient, and the name and address of the resident's general practitioner; and the second recordal means comprising a plurality of 2 second regions for recordal of the second information, including the progress of the resident.

The patient may be a resident of the home.

Preferably, the first and second recordal means are separate from each other. The second recordal means may comprise a plurality of supplementary recordal elements. Preferably, each supplementary recordal element is separate from the, or each, other supplementary recordal element.

Desirably, the first regions of the first recordal means are adapted to be capable of recording said first information which may further include one or more of the following: date of birth of patient; date of admission of the patient; name of the residential home worker assigned to care for patient; name or number of unit in the residential home in which the patient is staying; last or home address; name and address of person to be contacted in an emergency; important medical information on patient; name and addresses of importance to patient; for example relates and social worker; religious and/or spiritual requirements; life history of patient, such as employment, names and addresses of family, names and addresses of friends, significant events in the life of the patient, interests and hobbies; lifestyle of patient, including one or more of needs for rising and retiring and likes and dislikes at such times, needs for meals and drinks, including likes and dislikes relating to meals and drinks, needs for social activities, including one or more of interests and hobbies, times and dates for performing such interests and hobbies, likes and dislikes relating to interests and hobbies, involvement of relatives and/or friend in lifestyles, preferred routines and needs during or for such routines, needs at night-time; goals for the patient including one or more of issues on which action is needed, definition of an aim for the patient, details of how the aim is to be achieved, details of the or each person to be Involved in achieving the aim, time scales, lists of actions agreed upon and an indication of the person agreeing said action, names of resources and/or other agencies to be involved in achieving the goal or undertaking the actions, names of contacts at said resources and/or 3 said agencies, details of unresolved issues or unmet needs; details of the health of the patient, including one or more of health issues and/or problems and actions required, details of whether patient can administer his/her own medication either supervised or unsupervised or whether administration by a third party is required, details of other assistance required, details of particular treatments, details of wishes of the patient in relation to the patient's death or dying.

The system may further include one or more ancillary recorded elements suitable for recording additional information relating to matters capable of being recorded on the first recordal means. In one embodiment, the or each ancillary recordal element is in the form of a continuation sheet for the first recordal means. The ancillary recordal element may comprise regions adopted to record goals for the patient, including one or more issues on which action is needed, a definition of an aim for the patient, details of how the aim is to be achieved, details of the or each person to be involved in achieving the aim, timescales. Such information may be recorded on one side. The other side may comprise regions for recordal of information relating to lists of actions agreed upon, an indication of the name of the person agreeing said action, names of resources and/or other agencies to be involved in achieving the goal or undertaking the actions, names of contacts at said resources and/or said agencies, details of unresolved issues o,r-unmet needs.

The second regions of the second recordal means may be provided to record second information further including one or more of the following: (1) acute problem information including: details of one or more acute health problems; action taken in response to the or each acute problem; details of equipment and/or charts implemented to deal with the or each problem; details of lifting equipment for the patient; details of a person or persons to be informed of the or each acute problem; details of expected goals of the patient to cure the or each acute problem; (2) daily information, including details of the daily achievements, needs and/or activities of the patient; (3) review details including: details of a review of the patients progress, including one or more of 4 the following, names of people present at the review, details of achievements and/or developments since the previous review or since the patient entered the home; the views of the patient as to his or her progress; the views of family and/or friends on the progress of the patient, the views of the worker assigned to the care of the patient; details of how well the patients needs are met; details of whether or not there is agreement between those present at the review; details of action to be taken after the review; details of action planned after the review; (4) risk assessment information including: details of the safety of the patient inside the home; details of the safety of the patient outside the home; details of manual handing the patient; details of any medical risks to the patient; details of any other risks to the patient.

Preferably, each of the supplementary recordal elements is adapted to record one or more of the pieces of information which can be recorded by the second recordal means. Conveniently, the second recordal means comprises four supplementary recordal means wherein each respective one of the supplementary recordal means may be adapted to record the information respectively listed as (1), (2), (3) and (4) above. Desirably, the first and second recordal means comprise forms.

A fifth supplementary recordal element may be provided to record dates on which reviews for the patient are to be carried out. Preferably., the fifth supplementary recordal element comprises a plurality of regions for indicating dates for reviews of the respective patients. Advantageously, the fifth supplementary recordal element is in the form of wall charts which comprises a plurality of columns adapted to represent selected periods of time. In one embodiment, the chart may comprise a plurality of columns each intended to represent a respective month of the year. Each column may comprise into a plurality of further columns comprising subcolumns, wherein each subcolumn represents a respective week of each month. The wall chart may be further divided into a plurality of rows, wherein each row represents a respective user patient wherein the columns and rows together define a plurality of boxes, each box representing a particular week for a particular patient. Ticks can be marked on selected boxes to represent selected weeks for a review of the patient or patients.

The system may further include holding means to hold the first and second recordal means. The holding means may comprise at least one binder or file to hold the first and second. recordal means. Preferably the-holding means comprises a plurality of said binders or files. In one embodiment, the holding means comprises: a first binder or file which may be adapted to be used as a travel case or as a master file or holder for a plurality of first and second recordal means for a plurality of patients; a second binder or file to hold the first and second recordal means for a single patient; and a third binder or file in which a plurality of first and second recordal means to be transferred away from the home or to be archived in the home.

The holding means may further include a fourth binder or file, which may be in the form of a wallet, capable of holding various documents of the system in the third binder or file.

The system may also include a training/guidance manual.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figs. 1 A and 1 B are respectively the front and rear views of the first recordal means; Figs. IC and ID are respectively the front and rear views of an ancillary recordal element; Figs. 2A and 2B are respectively the front and rear views of a first supplementary recordal element; Figs. 3A and 3 B are respectively the front and rear views of a second 6 supplementary recordal element; Figs. 4A and 4B are respectively the front and rear views of a third supplementary recordal element; Fig. 5 is a fourth supplementary recordal element; Fig. 6 is a fifth supplementary recordal element; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a master file; Fig. 8 is a view of an individual patients file; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of an archive case; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a file for a training/guidance manual; and Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a wallet for use with the archive case shown in Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown first and second recordal means of a residential care monitoring system for use in residential homes. The f irst recordal means shown in Figs. 1 A and t B comprises a form 10 one side of which is shown in Fig. I A, and the other side of which is shown in Fig. 1 B. Fig. IA shows the front side of the form 10 which comprises three sections 12, 14,16 to record information on a patient in a care situation, for example resident of a residential care home. The first section 12 has a region 18 in which the residents' photograph can be affixed. The first section 12 also has regions for recordal of significant information relating to the resident such as a region 20 for recordal of the name of the resident, a region 22 for recordal of the name under which the resident likes to be known, a region 23 for 7 recordal of the date of birth of the resident, a region 24 for recordal of an identification of the unit in the residential home in which the resident lives, a region 26 for recordal of the date of the resident's admission, and a region 28 for recordal of the name of the worker of the home responsible for the resident.

The section 12 includes three regions, a first region 28 to record the recent/home address of the resident, a region 30 to record the name and address of the resident's general practitioner, and a region 32 to record the name, telephone number, address and relationship of a person to be contacted in an emergency.

Further information such as important medical information, important names and addresses, and religious and spiritual requirements can be recorded respectively in regions 3-4, 36 and 38 in section 12.

Section 1-4 of the form 10 is for recording health matters of the resident. A region 40 is provided to record health issues and problems, underneath which is provided a region 42 to record any action required as a result of the issues and problems recorded in the region 40. Appropriate boxes 44, 46 and 48 are provided for the key worker to tick to record whether the residerit is capable of holding her own medication, holding it supervised, or requires the medication to be administered to the resident.

A region 50 is provided to record details of any assistance required in administering medication, details of particular treatments may be recorded in the region 52 underneath the region 50 and region 54 is provided at the bottom of the section 14 to record express wishes relating to death and dying of the resident.

The third section 16 on the first side of the form 10 is provided to record details of actions to be carried out relating to the resident, or any goals set for the resident. A plurality of boxes 56A to F record actions agreed for the resident and the second part of these boxes is to record the names of the people 8 who have agreed these actions. Beneath the boxes 56A to F is provided a region 58 for details of resources or other Agents involved in carrying out these actions, and box 60 adjacent the region 58 records the names of contacts for such resources or other agencies.

A region 62 below the region 58 and 60 is provided to record details of any unresolved issues or unmet needs, and boxes 64, 66 and 68 are provided for signatures respectively of the resident, the worker in the hospital responsible for the resident and another person having connections with the resident.

Fig. 1 B shows the rear side of the form 10 which is also split into three sections 70, 72 and 74. Section 70 comprises six regions 76 to 86 to record the following information. A region 76 is provided for details of the employment history of the resident. A region 78 is provided for details of the family of the resident. A region 80 is provided for details of significant people in the life of the resident. A region 82 is provided for names of friends of the resident.

A region 84 is provided for significant events that occurred during the resident's life, and a bottom region 86 is provided for a list of the interests and hobbies of the resident.

The second section 72 on the rear side of the form 10 is provided for details of the lifestyle of the residents, and includes a region 88 for details of whether help is required and the resident rises and retires. Regions 90 and 92 beneath the region 88 are provided for details of likes and dislikes when the resident is sleeping.

A region 94 is provided for details of whether help is required for meals and drinks, and beneath the region 94 is provided boxes 96 and 98 respectively for details of food and drink which a resident dislikes, and food and drink which the resident likes.

9 Beneath these boxes is box 100 for details of whether help is required during social activity of the resident. Beneath box 100 is a region 102 for details of the resident's interests and hobbies, and adjacent region 102 is a region 104 for details of when the resident would carry out these interests and hobbies. Under these regions are regions 106 and 108 for the likes and dislikes of the resident during social activities.

Region 110 is provided for details of involvement of relatives and/or significant others in the lifestyle of the resident. Under region 110 is region 112 for details of the routine and whether help is required during the day and, below region 112 is region 114 for details of whether help is required during the night-time.

The third section 7-4 of the rear side of the form 10 comprises five sets of spaces 116, 118, 120, 122 and 124. The third section 7-4 relates to plans and/or goals to be set for the resident.

The region 116 relates to issues for which action is to be carried out and comprises three sub-regions for listing one each of three different actions, the sub-regions are 11 6A, 1 16B and 1 16C. The second region 118 relates to the definition of the aim for the resident and comprises three sub-regions 11 SA, 1 18B, 11 8C sub-region 11 8A being directly below sub-region 1 16A, sub-region 11 8B being directly below sub-region 1 16B and sub-region 1 18C being directly, below sub-region 11 6C.

The third regions 120 relates to how the aim is to be achieved and comprises three sub-regions 120A, 120B, 120C, sub-regions 120A being directlybelow sub-region 118A, sub-region 120B being directly below subregion 11 8B and sub-region 120C being directly below sub-region 11 8C.

The set of regions 122 relates to details of the people who could be involved in meeting the aims of the resident and comprises three subregions 122A, 122B and 122C, sub-region 122A being directly below subregion 120A, sub-region 122B being directly below sub-region 120B, and sub-region 122C being directly below sub-region 120C.

The third set of sub-region 124 relates to time scale for the action and comprises three sub-regions 124A, 124B and 124C, sub-regions 124A being directly below sub-region 122A, sub-region 124B being directly below subregion 122B, and sub-region 124C being directly below sub-region 122C.

In the section 74, each of the regions labelled with the same letter relates to the same issue, aim etc. Thus, for example, sub-regions 1 16A, 1 18A, 120A, 122A, and 124A relate to the same matter.

Referring to Figs. IC and 1D there is shown an ancillary or optional continuation sheet 125 comprising a front side 125A and a reverse side 125B. Side 12 SA is the same as the section 74 as shown in Fig. 1 B, and side 12 5 B is the same as the side 16 shown in Fig. IA. Both sides 125A and 125B comprise the respective features of the sections 16 and 74, and have been designated at the same reference numeral. The side 12SA, however, differs slightly from the section 7-4 in that it includes a region 12 7 for, inter alia, the name of the patient and the date of completion of the sheet 125). The side 125B differs from the section 16 in that it contains inter alia a region 129 to indicate its function.

Referring to Figs. 2A and 2B, there is shown second recordal means in the form of a first supplementary recordal element, comprising a form 126, in which details of the risk to the residents can be recorded. Fig. 2A shows the front side of the form 126 and Fig. 2B shows the rear side of the form 126. The front side of the form 126 comprises, near the top, three regions 128, 130, 132, region 128 being for the residents name, region 130 being for the name of the worker allocated to the resident, and region 132 being for the date when the form is filled in. Beneath these regions is a region 134 relating to details of safety and the environment for the resident inside the home. Beneath the region 134 is provided four regions 136, 138, 140, 142, region 136 being for the signature of a member of staff, region 138 being for details of the staff 11 member's job, region 140 being for the signature of the resident, and region 142 being for the date when this section of the form is filled in.

Beneath regions 136 to 142 is a further region 144 relating to the safety and the environment outside the home. Beneath the region 144 are four regions 146, 148, 150, 152, region 146 being for a signature of a member of staff, region 148 being for details of the job of the member of staff, region 150 being for the signature of the resident, and region 152 being for the date when this section is filled in. Beneath these regions is a region 1534 for details of the manual handling of the resident. Beneath region 154 are four regions 13-6, 158, 160, 162, region 156 being for the signature of a member of staff, region 158 being for details of the job of the member of staff, region 160 being for the resident's signature, and region 162 being for the date when this secti lon of the form is completed.

On the rear side of the form 126, shown in Fig. 2B, there is provided a region 164 for details of any medical risks to the resident. Beneath region 164 is a region 166 for the signature of a member of staff completing the form, adjacent region 166 is region 168 for the details of the job of the person completing the space 164, adjacent region 168 is a region 170 for the signature of the resident, and adjacent region 170 is a region 1 712 for the date when the region 164 is completed.

Beneath these regions is a region 174 for details of other risk/safety factors relating to the resident. Beneath region 174 are four regions 176, 178, 180, 182, region 176 being for the signature of the member of staff completing space 174. Adjacent region 176 is the region 178 for details of theJob of the person completing the region 174. Adjacent region 178 is the region 180 for the signature of the resident, and adJacent the region 180 is the region 182 for the date when the space 174 is completed.

Referring to Figs. 3A and 33 there is shown a second supplemental recordal element, comprising a form 184 for details of any reviews which are 12 carried out on the resident. Fig. 3A shows the front side of form 184, and Fig. 3B shows the rear side of form 184.

At the top of the front side of the form 184 is provided three regions 186, 188, 190, region 186 being for the name of the resident, region 188 being for the date when the form 184 is completed, and region 190 being for the name of the worker allocated to the resident.

Beneath regions 186, 188 and 190 are a plurality of regions 192 for the names and job title or relationship of the people present at the resident's review.

Beneath the region 192 is a region 194 for details of achievements of the resident since any previous review, including details of whether any goals have been met.

Beneath the region 194 is a region 196 for details of the resident's views on his or her progress in the home, and beneath region 196) is a region 198 for details of views of any significant other people on the resident's progress.

On the rear of the form 18, shown in Fig. 3B, there is provided, at the top, a region 200 for details of the views of the worker responsible for the resident on the progress of the resident. Beneath space 200 is a region 202 for details of how well the resident's needs are met.

Below region 202 is a region 204 for details of whether there is broad agreement of the parties, including a section for whether there is agreement and for expansion of this, and a section for whether there is no agreement, and for expansion of this.

Beneath the region 204 is a region 20,5) the details of action agreed between those present at the review, and beneath the region 205 is a region 200 for details of action planned.

13 At the bottom of the rear side of the form 184 are four boxes for signatures, box 208 being for the signature of the resident, box 2 10 being for the signature of the key worker, box 212 being for signature of any staff member assisting the key worker and box 214 is for the signature of any significant other person.

Figs. 4A and 4B show front and rear sides respectively of a third supplementary recordal element comprising a form 216, comprising a daily record sheet. The front and rear sides shown in Figs. 4A and 4B respectively are identical, each comprising at the top a region 2 18 for the name of the worker responsible for the resident, a region 220 for the name of the resident, a region 222 for the sheet number, and a region 224 for the location of the resident. Below the regions 218 to 214 is a table comprising three columns, 226, 228 and 230, divided into a plurality of rows 23 1. Column 226 is to record the date, column 228 is for a daily record of achievements, needs and activities, and space 230 is for the signature of the key worker.

Fig. 5 shows a fourth supplemental recordal element comprising a form 232 for details of any acute problems that may affect the resident. At the top of form 232 is a region 234 for details of the resident's name, adjacent the region 234 is a region 236 for the date, and time of when the form 2-32 is completed. Beneath the region 234 is a region 238 for details of the problems/area of need in question. Beneath the region 238 is a region 240 for details of any action. Beneath the region 240 are a plurality of boxes 242 for recording the following equipment or monitoring charts implemented as a result of the problem or need. The charts are temperature, positional/term, weight, inhalations, pulse, fluid balance, skin assessment, seating cushion, respiration, urinalysis, dressings, cot sides. Also provided are details of the type of mattress and utilised and whether heel or elbow protectors are required.

Underneath this is region 244 for details of whether a change of lifting equipment is required, and beneath region 244 are a plurality of boxes 246 to be ticked for details of those who have to be informed of the resident's 14 problem. These include relatives, care staff, other agencies, doctor, friends, kitchen staff and physiotherapist. Underneath this is a region 248 for details of the expected goal of the resident in his or her recovery. At the bottom of the form 232 is a region 250 for the name of the worker or nurse responsible for the resident, a space for signature, and a space for the date.

Fig. 6 shows a fifth supplementary recordal element in the form of a wall chart 252 for marking the dates of each review for each resident.

Attention is drawn to Figs. 3A and 3 B showing a form on which details of a review can be recorded.

The wall chart 252 comprises twelve columns 254, each column representing and designating a respective one of the months of the years. Each column 254 is divided into five sub-columns 250, wherein each sub-column represents a whole or a part of a week of a month. The wall chart is further divided into a plurality of rows 258. Each row 258 is provided to represent a particular resident or user of the system. The rows and columns thereby define a plurality of boxes 260, each box 260 representing a particular week in which a review could be carried out for the resident or user named for the row in question. A tick is entered in the appropriate box representing the week in which a review should be carried out for the resident named for the row.

At the top of each column 254 is a region 262 in which the name of each respective month is provided. Adjacent each region 262 is a box 264 in which the year can be entered, eg 1.999.

At the top of the wall chart 2 5 2 is a box 266 in which the chart No. can be entered, and below the box 266 is a box 268 in which can be entered the period it is intended the wall chart 252 to cover.

Referring to Fig. 7, a master file 270 for use in the storage of individuals files (as shown in Fig. 8) which are in use on a day to day basis. The master file 2 70 is in the form of a box and comprises a lid 2 72 having depending therefrom a flap 2 74. The box further comprises side walls 2 76, 2 78 and the front wall 280. Locking means 282 are provided on either side of the front wall 280 (only one is shown for clarity), and which includes projecting formations 284 adapted to be received through apertures 286 in the flap 274. Aperture plastic members 288 surround the apertures 286. The lid 272 is movable from an open position (not shown) to a closed position, as shown in Fig. 7. In order to lock the lid in the closed position, the flap is positioned such that the projections 284 project through the aperture 286. The projections 284 are then twisted to hold the flap in its closed position.

The master file 270 is adapted to hold a plurality of patient's files (aswill be explained below).

Referring to Fig. 8 there is shown an patient's file, alternatively known as a residents personal file 290 which comprises a cover 292 folded about a central line 294 into two flaps 296, 298. Holding means 300, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8 is provided between the flaps 29(3, 298 and is adapted to hold papers 302. The holding means 300 can be in the form of a two part clip that can be snapped apart to allow removal or addition of papers to the file in any desired place and snapped together to lock the papers in place. The file 290 can be made from a polycote material which is a transparent, flexible, durable plastics material which can be printed on the face and is hygienic, wipe free, fire resistant and light fast.

Support means in the form of a support bar 304 comprises a pair of inwardly projecting members 306, 308 and a main portion 3 10 extending the length of the fold line 294 and there beyond. A pair of recesses 3 12, 3 1.4 are provided between the inwardly projecting members 306, 308 and the elongate support bar 3 10. The flap is positioned such that the end regions of the fold line are received in the recesses 312, 3 14 and engage the inwardly projecting members 306, 308, whereby the cover 292 is suspended therefrom.

16 Also shown in Fig. 8, in dotted lines, is the side walls 276 of the master file 270. A pair of overhang members 316, 318 are provided at the top regions of the side walls 276. Each of the overhang members 316, 318 comprises a wall engaging portion 320 comprising a depending member 322 an upward member 324 adapted to be arranged on the top of the side wall 276, a downwardly depending member 326 adapted to be arranged on the inside of the wall 276 and an L-shaped support member 328 defining a recess 330 adapted to receive projections 332 depending from the support bar 3 10. Thus, a plurality of residents personal files 290 can be supported within the master file 270. The residents personal files 290 are so provided to hold therein each of the forms 1, 126, 184, 216 and 232, these being held by the securing means 300.

Fig. 9 shows an archive case 334 comprising side walls 336 a top wall 338, a bottom wall 339, a front wall 340 and a back wall 342. A front flap 344 extends over the front wall 340 and is provided with a catch means 346 adapted to be received in a slit 348 in the front wall 3.40. The archive file 344 is intended to hold a plurality of personal residents file 290, without the support bar 3 10. A pocket 350 is provided on the front flap 344 to identify the contents of the file 344.

Referring to Fig. 10, there is shown a binder 3.52 for a training/guidance manual. The binder 352 comprises front and rear cover members 354, 3536 securing means, in the form of sprung paper holding members 358. The papers being designated by the numeral 360.

A front flap 362 extends from the front cover 3.54 and is intended to be placed across the papers 360 when the folder is in its closed position. A subsidiary flap 364 extends from the edge of flap 362 and carries thereon a popper (not shown) to enable the subsidiary flap 364 to be secured to the rear cover 356.

Referring to Fig. 11 there is shown a wallet 366 for use with the archive case 334 shown in Fig. 9. The wallet 366 comprises side walls 368, a top wall 17 370 extending from which is a closable flap 372. The wallet also includes a front wall 3 74 and a rear wall 3 76.

The flap 3 72 extends at least partially over the front wall 3 74 and includes a catch 378 receivable in a rectangular aperture 380 to enable the flap 31-2 to be closed.

An upper region of the front wall 372 defines a cut out region 382 of a trapezoidal configuration to allow access to documents (not shown) held in the wallet 366.

The wallet 366 is intended to hold papers of the system described herein and show-n in Figs. 1 to 5.

Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

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Claims (23)

1. A care monitoring system, said system comprising first recordal means for recording first information concerning a patient, and second recordal means for recording second information concerning the patient; the first recordal means comprising a plurality of first regions, each first region being so provided for recordal of the first information, including the name of the patient, and the name and address of the patient's general practitioner; and the second recordal means comprising a plurality of second regions for recordal of the second information including the progress of the patient.

2. A residential care monitoring system for use in a residential home, said system comprising first recordal means for recording first information concerning a resident, and second recordal means for recording second information concerning the resident; the first recordal means comprising a plurality of first regions, each first region being so provided for recordal of the first information, including the name of the resident, and the name and address of the patient's general practitioner; and the second recordal means comprising a plurality of second regions for recordal of the second information, including the progress of the resident.

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the first and second recordal means are separate from each other, and the second recordal means comprises a plurality of supplementary recordal elements.

4. A system according to claim 3 wherein each supplementary recordal element is separate from the, or each, other supplementary recordal element.

5. A system according to any preceding claim wherein the first regions of the first recordal means are adapted to be capable of recording said first information which further includes one or more of the following: date of birth of patient; date of admission of the patient; name of the residential or nursing home worker assigned to care for patient., name or number of unit in the 19 residential home in which the patient is staying; last or home address; name and address of person to be contacted in an emergency; important medical information on patient; name and addresses of importance to patient; for example relates and social worker; religious and/or spiritual requirements; life history of patient, such as employment, names and addresses of family, names and addresses of friends, significant events in the life of the patient, interests and hobbies; lifestyle of patient, including one or more of needs for rising and retiring and likes and dislikes at such times, needs for meals and drinks, including likes and dislikes relating to meals and drinks, needs for social activities, including one or more of interests and hobbies, times and dates for performing such interests and hobbies, likes and dislikes relating to interests and hobbies, involvement of relatives and/or friend in lifestyles, preferred routines and needs during or for such routines, needs at night-time; goals for the patient including one or more of issues on which action is needed, definition of an aim for the patient, details of how the aim is to be achieved, details of the or each person to be involved in achieving the aim, time scales, lists of actions agreed upon and an indication of the person agreeing said action, names of resources and/or other agencies to be involved in achieving the goal or undertaking the actions, names of contacts at said resources and/or said agencies, details of unresolved issues or unmet needs; details of the health of the patient, including one or more of health issues and/or problems and actions required, details of whether patient can administer his/her own medication either supervised or unsupervised or whether administration by a third party is required, details of other assistance required, details of particular treatments, details of wishes of the patient in relation to the patients death or dying.

6. A system according to claim 6 further including one or more ancillary recorded elements suitable for recording additional information relating to matters capable of being recorded on the first recordal means.

7. A system according to claim 6 wherein the or each ancillary recordal element is capable of recording goals for the patient, including one or more of the following: one or more issues on which action is needed, a definition of an aim for the patient, details of how the aim is to be achieved, details of the or each person to be involved in achieving the aim, timescales, lists of actions agreed upon and an indication of the person agreeing said action, names of resources and/or other agencies to be involved in achieving the goal or undertaking the actions, names of contacts at said resources and/or said agencies, details of unresolved issues or unmet needs.

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8. A system according to any preceding claim wherein the second regions of the second recordal means is provided to record second information further including one or more of the following: (1) acute problem information including: details of one or more acute health problems; action taken in response to the or each acute problem; details of equipment and/or charts implemented to deal with the or each problem; details of lifting equipment for the patient; details of a person or persons to be informed of the or each acute problem; details of expected goals of the patient to cure the or each acute problem; (2) daily information, including details of the daily achievements, needs and/or activities of the patient; (3) review details including: details of a review of the patients progress, including one or more of the following, names of people present at the review, details of achievements and/or developments since the previous review or since the patient entered the home; the views of the patient as to his or her progress; the views of family and/or friends on the progress of the patient, the views of the worker assigned to the care of the patient; details of how well the patients needs are met; details of whether or not there is agreement between those present at the review; details of action to be taken after the review; details of action planned after the review; (4) risk assessment information including: details of the safety of the patient inside the home; details of the safety of the patient outside the home; details of manual handing the patient; details of any medical risks to the patient; details of any other risks to the patient.

9. A system according to claim 8 when dependent upon claim 3 or 4 wherein each of the supplementary recordal elements is adapted to record one 21 or more of the pieces of information which can be recorded by the second recordal means.

10. A system according to claim 9 wherein the second recordal means comprises four supplementary recordal means wherein each respective one of the supplementary recordal means may be adapted to record the information respectively listed as (1), (2), (3) and (4) above.

11. A system according to any of claims 8 to 10 wherein a fifth supplementary recordal element is provided to record dates on which reviews for the patient are to be carried out, wherein the fifth supplementary recordal element comprises a plurality of regions for indicating dates for reviews of the respective patients.

12. A system according to claim 11 wherein the fifth supplementary recordal element is in the form of a wall chart which comprises a plurality of columns adapted to represent selected periods of time.

13. A system according to claim 12 wherein the chart comprises a plurality of columns each intended to represent a respective month of the year, each column comprising a plurality of further columns comprising sub-columns, wherein each sub-column represents a respective week of each month.

14. A system according to claim 13 wherein the wall chart is further divided into a plurality of rows, wherein each row represents a respective user patient wherein the columns and rows together define a plurality of boxes, each box representing a particular week for a particular patient.

15. A system according to any preceding claim wherein each of the recordal means comprises a form.

16. A system according to any preceding claim wherein the system further includes holding means to hold the first and second recordal means.

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17. A system according to claim 16 wherein the holding means comprises at least one binder or file to hold the first and second recordal means.

18. A system according to claim 17 wherein the holding means comprises: a first binder or file which may be adapted to be used as a travel case or as a master file or holder for a plurality of first and second recordal means for a plurality of patients; a second binder or file to hold the first and second recordal means for a single patient; and a third binder or file in which a plurality of first and second recordal means to be transferred away from the home or to be archived in the home.

19. A system according to claim 18 wherein the holding means further includes a fourth binder or file capable of holding various documents of the system in the third binder or file.

20. A system according to claim 19 wherein the fourth binder or file is in the form of a wallet.

21. A system according to any preceding claim wherein the system also includes a train ing/gu id ance manual.

22. A system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.