Thursday, November 14, 2024

Project to support hospital patients with sensory needs needing emergency care

A new project is launching to support hospital patients with sensory needs who are in need of emergency care.

Sensory friendly resource bags are being made available at Lincoln, Boston and Grantham hospitals.

Patients with sensory needs often find Emergency Department environments overwhelming, due to all of the noises and activity.

To support patients with autism or learning disabilities, United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust is introducing the bags which include items such as noise-cancelling headphones, an eye mask, stress ball, a sensory chew bracelet and a colouring book with pencils. Each bag also contains an easy-read patient information leaflet and a feedback form to gather insights for continuous improvement.

Specialist Safeguarding Learning Disability Nurse Kerry Poberezniuk, Safeguarding and Vulnerabilities Nurse Specialist for Dementia Zoe Chapman and Patient Experience Manager Sharon Kidd came up with the idea.

They also had support from Lincolnshire patients who are experts by experience. One such expert by experience is David. He said: “These bags are really great and helpful. I wish they had been around the last time I came to A&E as they really would have helped me. At least I know to ask for one if I ever need to attend in the future.”

Kerry said: “Our new sensory friendly bags are designed to help create a calm and safe space when senses become overwhelmed and there is a need to get away from the outside world, ultimately giving our patients a better experience whilst waiting to be seen and cared for.

“The feedback from staff has been incredible. It’s truly inspiring to see how such a simple idea can have a huge positive impact on someone’s healthcare experience. The bags are especially useful for patients who arrive unexpectedly and do not have their own coping items.”

Staff can also update a patient’s records to help improve communication during their stay and also identify any additional support they might need during future visits.

The bags have been funded by the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity. Charity Manager, Ben Petts, said: “Nobody ever wants to visit an Emergency Department, but it is even more daunting and overwhelming for people with learning disabilities. As a charity we fund the extras not covered by the NHS and our proud to be supporting these bags.”

Kerry added: “Together, we can make a real difference to the hospital experience for patients with sensory needs.”

 

Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/smolaw11

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our news site - please take a moment to read this important message:

As you know, our aim is to bring you, the reader, an editorially led news site and magazine but journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them.

With the Covid-19 pandemic having a major impact on our industry as a whole, the advertising revenues we normally receive, which helps us cover the cost of our journalists and this website, have been drastically affected.

As such we need your help. If you can support our news sites/magazines with either a small donation of even £1, or a subscription to our magazine, which costs just £27.55 per year, (inc p&P and mailed direct to your door) your generosity will help us weather the storm and continue in our quest to deliver quality journalism.

As a subscriber, you will have unlimited access to our web site and magazine. You'll also be offered VIP invitations to our events, preferential rates to all our awards and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Just click here to subscribe and in the meantime may I wish you the very best.

Advertisment












Latest posts

St Andrew’s ealthcare Voluntary Services team named King’s Award winners

A team that supports people with complex mental health needs has received the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. The Voluntary...

Trading Standards seize illicit tobacco worth about £100,000

North East Lincolnshire Council Trading Standards team have seized illicit tobacco products worth about £100,000 during Stoptober. The team and partner organisations such as Humberside...

Drivers in Boston see 236% increase in number of parking fines issued

Drivers in Boston have seen a 236% year-on-year increase in the number of parking fines issued to them by their local council, according to...

Exchange of contracts moves Stamford development a step closer

Contracts have been exchanged in readiness for the planned transformation of the former Cummins site, a major brownfield location in Stamford. South Kesteven District Council...

Spectacular Anglo-Saxon finds go on show in new museum exhibition

Two spectacular Anglo-Saxon gold pendants unearthed by metal detectorists in a North Lincolnshire field are among the objects going on display in a new...