On-hand support for patients with dementia thanks to charity intiative

This year has seen us focus on dementia care with a new three-month fundraising intiative, ‘Grow Your Dough’. Teams of any size received a £50 donation and were encouraged to get creative to make their ‘dough’ grow between the months of April and June. Thanks to the incredible generosity and commitment of our community, we raised over £31,000, enabling us to fund a vital activity assistant role on ward G4, where many patients face the challenges of dementia or delirium.

We are thrilled to introduce Gemma, who took up the role to help provide meaningful activities for patients on the ward.

Gemma says: “A lack of mental stimulation for patients in hospital can unfortunately hinder their physical recovery. I offer a variety of individual and group activities, including reminiscence therapy, word games, arts and crafts, and sensory experiences.

“These activities help keep patients both mentally and physically active, which in turn can support their recovery.”

Gemma’s work goes beyond just keeping minds engaged; she is a source of emotional support and companionship for those on G4.

She explains: “I provide conversation and company for patients, spending time with them when visitors or other staff may not be available. This social contact is crucial in alleviating feelings of loneliness and isolation, which can be a painful part of a hospital stay.”

We are proud to continue our support for Gemma as she makes a huge difference to patients and staff, and a big thank you to our amazing Grow Your Dough teams for making this possible.