United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity has funded new resource bags for dementia patients at emergency departments in Lincoln, Boston, and Grantham. The bags aim to ease anxiety and provide comfort and distraction for patients who may feel distressed or overwhelmed in the hospital environment.
Collaborative Design with Experts and Carers
The bags were developed by safeguarding and vulnerability nurse specialist for Dementia Zoe Chapman and patient experience manager Sharon Kidd. Items include sensory resources, activity materials, and comforting objects, selected with input from dementia leads, carers, and patient representatives.
Staff nurse Sally Ruiz welcomed the initiative, stating: "The items will distract a patient and allow us to do our observations. Sometimes it is difficult to take blood for patients with dementia, but to give them this bag and distract them from what we are doing will be less stressful for both patients, their carers and staff."
Creating a Calmer Experience in Emergency Care
Sharon Kidd explained the importance of the bags: "Our new bags for patients with dementia are designed to create a calmer experience whilst they are waiting for treatment. We are thankful to United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity for funding this initiative and helping us further improve the experience of people living with dementia in our care."
Charity manager Ben Petts added: "As a charity we fund the extras that improve the lives of our patients whilst in the care of Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group. Visiting an emergency department with its noise and activity must be daunting and overwhelming for people with dementia and it is good to know that we are making a real difference to their hospital experience."
Impact on Patient Care
The resource bags are now available across three hospital sites in Lincolnshire. By providing comfort and distraction, they help reduce stress for patients, carers, and staff, enabling medical observations and procedures to be carried out more smoothly. The initiative reflects a commitment to improving dementia care within the NHS.
