People with dementia in Bristol will have a ‘This is me’ booklet telling hospital staff about them so that care can be tailored to their needs.
The project has been piloted at some of the city centre hospitals and is now spreading across the trust. The ‘This is me’ booklet was created by the Alzheimer’s Society and supported by the Royal College of Nursing.
Booklets can be filled out and given to staff when a person with dementia goes into hospital to help hospital staff learn about the person’s habits, hobbies, likes and dislikes. It is being rolled out across University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust after nurse Carly Hall won a £2,500 scholarship in May.
Helen Morgan, head of nursing for specialised services, said:
“The purpose of the booklet is to provide staff with a ‘snapshot’ of the person behind the dementia so that they can care for them appropriately. This gives staff an insight into the patient’s interests and background. It can be something as simple as knowing that a patient is always called by their middle rather than their first name and this can really make a difference to their experience.”