A&E changes and staff award
A quiet room away from an A&E waiting area has been created after a hospital took on board feedback from carers of women with dementia.
The changes have led to Chris Cairns, a Nurse Consultant for Older Persons with South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, being presented an award for the work he has put in to create the space.
Chris was contacted by Healthwatch Sunderland and the Essence Service, which is part of Age UK Sunderland and helps people with mild to moderate dementia and their carers. They had teamed up to share their feedback about A&E visits.
Partners said they had struggled to support the women when they had attended the department at Sunderland Royal Hospital.
Chris attended one of their sessions to hear about their experiences firsthand. He listened to their concerns about how the waiting space could be overwhelming because of noise and said they would benefit from ways to help pass the time.
They also explained a number of the women were incontinent and as it was an emergency visit, the carers did not have supplies at hand.
Chris took on board their comments and worked to set up a room for them to use. It has been fitted out with seats and a cabinet filled with games and books, with calming artwork added to the walls.
A trolley of pads has been arranged, while a buzzer system is on hand so they can call for assistance if needed. An accessible toilet nearby has been identified for use.
Posters are in the pipeline to let people in the waiting room know it is available and the A&E team will be given training to help them learn more about how to support people with dementia.
Chris said:
“The room was used for storage before, so it was full of equipment and other items, but now it’s a calming and comfortable space.
“We’ve set it up with people who have dementia in mind and I’m really pleased the carers have given it their approval.”
George Hackett is among the carers who attends the Essence Service as a volunteer and visited the department to see the improvements.
He said:
“I think it’s absolutely great and what Chris has done has far exceeded what we thought it would be like. This is superb, it’s really calming and beautiful.”
In their commendation for Chris as they nominated him for a Healthwatch Star Award, the carers said:
“He enthusiastically fulfilled our requests, listened to us, and acted on our feedback.
“It is not a job for him, it's a vocation. He gives straight answers to our questions and we have found out more from him about our wives’ medications than anyone else. He is not shy to share his knowledge.
“Chris is sensitive to other people's point of view, he is approachable and impressive.
“He doesn't give empty promises - he is not a yes man. He is knowledgeable and honest - he goes the extra mile.”
More details on the support available to patients with dementia and their loved ones through the Trust can be found through its Dementia Care page:
https://www.stsft.nhs.uk/services/dementia-care
The Essence Service, which has been running for a decade and welcomes guest speakers to its sessions in addition to offering support and advice can be found through:
