3. Purpose and agenda

The first thing that must be decided is the purpose and agenda for the ward round meeting. The purpose needs to be clear and communicated to everybody concerned. It should also be clear what the ward round covers and what it does not. It's important that everybody understands the purpose of each meeting and also agree it in advance.

Once the purpose has been set, an agenda can be formulated. Parts of an agenda may stay fixed but other areas will vary depending on how well an individual feels and the issues the patient or staff have requested to discuss. A ward round agenda must adapt in relation to where a person is in their recovery.