Jayne is a Dementia Specialist Practitioner offering support to patients, carers, and staff at North Bristol NHS Trust. Here, Jayne talks about her busy role and how your donations improve care for dementia patients in Bristol.
I’ve been in the role of Dementia Specialist Practioner for three years but have worked at North Bristol NHS Trust for most of my nursing career. I work alongside Jet, who is the Matron for Elgar House and the Dementia Lead for the Trust, and a wider team of Dementia Champions across the hospitals.
Throughout the year, I see around 600 of the most complex patients with dementia who are referred directly to our service. But I also visit a great number of patients on wards throughout the hospital and provide support phone calls daily.
We provide assessment and support to patients from diagnosis to a dignified death. This includes support for behavioural management for carers, helping with complex discharge of patients, safeguarding and capacity assessments, as well as education and support for our own staff across the hospitals.
There’s a huge amount of variety in my role but seeing patients and carers – and knowing that I’ve been able to offer much-needed support at a crucial time – is the best part of my job.
We’re so thankful to everyone who donates to the Charity to support our work. It means we’re able to look at additional ways in which we can support patients with dementia and carers by offering activities such as reminiscence therapy and art on the ward.
Donations also support the valuable research into dementia that takes place at the Brain Centre here at Southmead Hospital. It really means a lot to know that the public is supportive of the work we do.
Over the coming months, the easing of lockdown restrictions means that we’ll be able to support patients and carers more fully again. We work very closely with the Fresh Arts team and look forward to being able to restart art and music activities that are so beneficial to our patients.
We’ll also be relaunching our Dementia Champion role so that our staff can receive additional training to promote the best care for dementia patients across the Trust.
You can continue to support patients with dementia by donating today. Thank you.
