Focus on dementia at Musgrove Park Hospital

Representatives from the King’s Fund and from the Department of Health visited the hospital recently to meet staff working on the ‘Enhancing the Healing Environment’ Programme.

Sarah Waller, the King’s Fund Programme Director, said

“Musgrove is one of only 12 sites selected nationally from 60 applicants. This programme has a specific focus on dementia and is intended to support the implementation of the National Dementia Strategy. We want to provide practical, value-for-money examples of how environments can be redesigned to better support NHS care for people with dementia and their carers. The team at Musgrove show real commitment to this aim.”

Sue Wood is Sister on Sedgemoor, the acute elderly care ward which will be the focus of the programme. She said,

“This is very exciting for us. The staff on the ward care for a wide range of older people who have complex needs, many of whom also have a dementia. It is acknowledged that people with dementia often have a poorer outcome when admitted to an acute hospital; they often stay longer, and are less likely to return to their own home. To address this our aim is to redesign the main ward, to make it a calm, welcoming environment using seating, lighting, colour and art work.”

Martine Price, Director of Nursing and Governance, said,

“We were delighted to learn that we had been successful in our bid to receive this funding. One of our priorities this year is to improve care for dementia patients, and this funding will help us to do just that. We know that making the environment more pleasant can have a significant effect on how patients feel and make a big difference for the people who care for them.”

The photo shows (left to right) Sue Wood (Sedgemoor Ward Sister), Sarah Waller (King’s Fund Programme Director), Headly Finn (King’s Fund Design Consultant), Professor Jane Gillard (Department of Health) and Darren Potter (Deputy Estates Manager at Musgrove)

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Notes to Editors

Musgrove Park Hospital Taunton is part of Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.

The hospital serves a population of 340,000 – primarily living in the area served by NHS South West. Each year almost 40,000 patients are admitted as emergencies; 10,000 patients are admitted for elective
surgery; 26,000 are seen for day case surgery; 232,000 patients attend outpatient clinics; 48,000 attend Accident and Emergency, 170,000 diagnostic examinations take place and over 3000 babies are born in the Maternity Department. Almost 1000 patients are admitted to Critical Care each year.

Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has an annual budget of £190 million. The hospital has over 700 beds, 30 wards, 15 operating theatres, a fully equipped diagnostic imaging department and a purpose built cancer treatment centre which includes outpatient, chemotherapy day care, radiotherapy and inpatient facilities. The Trust employs over 4000 staff.

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