Hospitals recognised for dementia work
Shropshire’s two acute hospitals have been recognised for the work they are doing to help ensure patients with dementia can have their family or carer with them during their stay.
The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital are two of the first 35 hospitals across the country highlighted by John’s Campaign, which is calling for the families and carers of people with dementia to be allowed to remain with patients in hospital for as long as possible.
At the two Shropshire hospitals – run by The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) – carers are welcome outside normal visiting hours on all medical and surgical wards.
The Trust also operates a “Carer's Passport”, which recognises the value of the unique care, support and knowledge that a carer may provide for a patient during his or her hospital stay. It encourages Trust staff to value and support each person’s carers, to welcome them as active members of the care team, and to support their visits during the day.
SaTH is also a member of the national Butterfly Scheme, which allows people with memory impairment to receive a specific form of personalised care during their stay in hospital.
John’s Campaign was launched eight months ago following the death of Dr John Gerrard. The aim of the campaign is to give the carers of those living with dementia the right to stay with them in hospital, in the same way that parents are allowed to stay with their sick children.
Julia Jones, from John’s Campaign, said: “Many people living with people with dementia don’t see themselves as carers, and it is not until their loved one is admitted into hospital that they realise what they need.
“Individual nurses and doctors tend to be kind, conscientious and respectful, but they have other patients to attend to, so of course they don’t have the time to sit and talk, read and keep that individual attached to the world. That is something family members and carers can do.
“We want carers and families of people with dementia to be welcomed not just because it is a nice hospital; we want it to become as automatic and natural as parents being allowed to stay with their children.”
Helen Coleman from the Corporate Nursing Team at SaTH, who has led the Trust’s initiatives, said: “Hospitals can be frightening and disorientating places for people with dementia. Having some sense of normality and familiarity can help tremendously.
“We still have more that we want to do, but we are delighted that our efforts so far have been recognised by John’s Campaign. This is testament to the tremendous enthusiasm of staff at the Trust. They don’t need convincing that this is the right thing to do; they want to make a difference.
