Purple Heart Project launched in Emergency Departments | Newry News | Latest Newry News, Newry Sport and Newry Business for Newry City

Purple Heart Project launched in Emergency Departments | Newry News

A project to support patients living with Dementia or experiencing confusion during hospital visits is being rolled out across the Emergency Departments in Craigavon and Daisy Hill Hospitals.

 

Purple Heart Project launched in Emergency Departments | Newry News - newry latest news online

 

Craigavon Area Hospital ED Sister Shauna Colyer developed the Purple Heart project to support patients with dementia who come into the department.

It was launched as part of Dementia Action Week 2024.

Shauna says they want to “ensure that people needing additional support are identified at the outset of their hospital journey.”

 


 

 


 

“Hospitals are busy places and can feel overwhelming for anyone, but they can be especially stressful for people with Dementia, Delirium or experiencing confusion.

“The project simply allows Emergency Department staff to place a purple heart on the patient’s notes, and the patient is also given the opportunity to wear a purple wristband so that hospital staff recognise they have difficulty with their memory and can offer support if needed.

“In doing so we are making them aware that this patient requires extra support when they are making decisions or choices.”

As part of the project, the ED team engaged with Dementia NI on how they can support dementia patients in ED.

“As their journey continues through ED, we support them with the ‘This is Me’ document.

“This document is created in partnership with the relatives or carers of the family member and is aimed at providing staff with additional information about the person, their preferences, hobbies and interests to support engagement, reduce distress and promote dementia-informed care.”

Trudy Reid, Director of Medicine and Unscheduled Care, says, “Recognising the changing age demographic within the Trust and a projected rise in the number of people living with Dementia, staff recognised the need to implement new strategies to effectively support patients living with Dementia, or experiencing confusion.

 


Malone's Ice Cream Newry - ice cream van hire in newry - ice cream newry city


 

“Our team within the Emergency Departments strive to provide patient-centred, compassionate care on a daily basis, and the addition of the Purple Heart Project will allow staff to take more time when communicating with patients who have difficulty understanding information and offer additional help or support with tasks where needed.

“Other departments are seeing the work Shauna is championing and can see the benefit of changing their approach to how we care for people living with Dementia.

“We are already seeing positive feedback come through Care Opinion regarding the compassionate care provided within the CAH ED department, demonstrating the value of this approach to care across all areas within the hospital.”

Staff have also met with members of Dementia NI and developed a patient information leaflet that helps a person with Dementia understand their journey through the Emergency Department.

 


Keep up to date with all the latest Newry City news today, what’s on in Newry, News in Newry, Newry Court News, Breaking News Newry and Today’s Newry News Now HERE.


 

Short URL: https://newrytimes.com/?p=80386

Posted by on Jun 3 2024. Filed under Community. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Leave a Reply







Find us on Facebook

Log in | Designed by Gabfire themes