THERE are inviting, brightly coloured seats at the entrance and, in the distance, people sipping cups of tea in a cosy lounge.

You would be forgiven for thinking this could be the lobby of a modern hotel.

In fact, it’s acute medical ward C5 at the Royal Blackburn Hospital – a unit for people who have dementia and cognitive impairments.

The pioneering space opened last April after East Lancashire Hospitials NHS Trust received £1.4 million from the Kings Fund to create a dementia-friendly environment.

Last week, The Bolton News launched its Donate £1 for Dementia campaign in partnership with Bolton NHS Charitable Fund to raise £200,000 for similar facilities to be developed at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Reporter Tui Benjamin visited the Royal Blackburn Hospital to find out more about how the changes have benefited patients and staff.

 

HOSPITAL stays are daunting for anyone – but for someone with dementia, being taken out of a familiar environment can be a frightening experience.

The logic behind ward C5 – and the other dementia-friendly units now appearing up and down the country – is to create a ‘home from home’.

Walking through the door, I noticed colourful wall panels and seating areas and calming nature-themed photographs on the walls.

Beds are more spaced out to reduce noise levels, signs use symbols next to words, swipe-access staff areas ensure patient safety and ceiling lights give the impression of looking out onto the sky.

Images of recognisable locations in past times are played on an ‘engagement screen’ – a sixties-inspired television fitted to the wall – and a cosy day room contains a retro mock fireplace, books and board games from the past and photographs of some of Lancashire’s most famous landmarks.

The ward was designed to both create stimulation and encourage reminiscence, but also to be a calming, comforting and safe place where patients feel safe and secure.

Sister Priscilla Manuel, ward manager, was one of the first cohort of Indian nurses recruited to work at the Royal Blackburn in 2001, and has stayed ever since.

She said in the first year of running the 14-bed ward her team have noticed the effect the environment has had on patients – from reducing falls to calming agitation.

Sister Manuel said: “Patients who have dementia are in their own reality, and that reality means a lot to them.

“As staff, we have to recognise that and try to become part of that reality for them. This makes them feel more secure and involved.

“So with the engagement TV, recognisable images help people reflect on past memories which can be very uplifting for them.

“It helps bring patients back to where they were in their memory line.”

Sister Manuel said the abundance of places to sit and talk means staff are encouraged to walk with patients who are angry or agitated to work out what they need and how this can be addressed.

An activities coordinator holds regular activities in the day room and patients can take part in arts and crafts and listen to music together.

Sister Manuel said: “Getting people involved changes a lot.

“For the staff is about seeing them as people, not as their condition.

“Once you can find out what a patient really likes it brings them to life, and the ward environment encourages this. It means people do not feel lost and scared.”

People with dementia often have issues with ‘sundowning’ – meaning they can become confused, restless and depressed in late afternoon or early evening as it gets darker.

The ward’s state-of-the-art lighting system works with patients’ Circadian rhythm – lighting up gently from dawn, achieving full brightness at midday and dimming gradually into the evening – to address this.

Sister Manuel said: “We do have challenges, but our first year has been a success. We notice huge improvements in patients who stay here.

“There has also been a reduction in falls, and staff job satisfaction is high.

“I hope in future we are able to keep growing and keep meeting patients’ needs.”

Gill Currie, acting ward matron, said: “This ward is something we are really proud of.

“The feedback we have had from patients and relatives has been a credit to both the ward environment and the team who work here.”

Staff on the ward were recently awarded a quality mark by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, with the unit also singled out for praise from the Department of Health.

Dr Nick Roberts, consultant physician and geriatrician at the Royal Blackburn, said: “We refurbished the ward to a high standard to provide supervised reception and a large open social area that enables a calm, caring, homely environment and maximises safety and dignity.

“The Quality Mark recognised the staff’s provision of excellent care for elderly people. This followed feedback from patients and families confirming that their time spent on the ward was a positive experience.”

To give to the Donate £1 for Dementia campaign go to www.boltonft.nhs.uk/get-involved/charitable-giving/ and click on the Virgin Money Giving logo or send a cheque to Bolton NHS Charitable Fund, Dowling House, Royal Bolton Hospital, Minerva Road, Bolton, BL4 0JR. Share your ‘pound selfie’ on Twitter using the hashtag #D14D.

Businesses, schools or groups which are considering a larger donation or event and want the campaign’s giant £1 logo to visit should email andy.lee@boltonft.nhs.uk For more information about Bolton NHS Charitable Fund go to boltonft.nhs.uk/get-involved/charitable-giving/, search Bolton NHS Charitable Fund on Facebook or follow @boltonnhsft on Twitter.