26 January 2012
£175,000 to help improve services for patients with dementia
University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (UH Bristol)
has been awarded a grant of £175,000 from the charity WRVS to
improve services for patients with dementia at its
hospitals.
The generous donation will allow the Trust to invest in improved
training programmes for staff, the setting up of a volunteer
network of dementia champions across the Trust and improvements in
the environment such as clocks and calendars in every
bay.
Alison Moon, the Trust's chief nurse and regional dementia
champion for acute hospitals for the South West, said: "We
are delighted to have received this generous funding from WRVS. It
will allow us to significantly improve our services for patients
with dementia as well as their carers and families.
"We have been working closely with North Bristol NHS Trust to
develop a role profile for dementia champions as well as an acute
hospitals Bristol wide training plan for staff. This will mean that
people with dementia should receive the same standard of care and
approach to training across all Bristol hospitals."
The funding will enable the Trust to recruit a nurse to lead the
work with volunteers and support patients on the ward and in other
appropriate settings. This will include befriending, help with
feeding and reminiscence work. Another nurse will also be recruited
to support the training of staff at the Trust.
Helen Morgan, the Trust's operational lead for dementia, said:
"The funding from the WRVS will allow us to build on the work that
is already underway at the Trust. We have already introduced a pop
up reminiscence pod to Ward 23 at the BRI to improve the
environment for patients with dementia. It's a pop up living room
that comes complete with authentic 1950s furniture and memorabilia
and helps to break up the patients' day. It's an ideal setting for
staff to get to know their patients better.
"The funding will enable us to have a further three of these
pods across the Trust."
John Clifford, service delivery manager for WRVS, said: "WRVS is
really pleased to be able to provide these funds for improving
dementia services within the Trust. The hard work and
commitment of our wonderful volunteers and staff has resulted in
the gift of these funds being made possible and I am hugely proud
of them all. WRVS looks forward to continuing to work closely with
the Trust to support patients, carers and families."
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