NHS Ayrshire & Arran ‘pledges’ carer support NHS Ayrshire & Arran has, today (Friday 12 December 2014), launched a groundbreaking DVD aimed at highlighting the importance of caring for people with dementia and their carers. The DVD is a joint project between NHS Ayrshire & Arran and Alliance Carers Voices health campaigner Tommy Whitelaw and is the result of almost a year of awareness raising among NHS Ayrshire & Arran staff. During 2013, Mr Whitelaw attended more than ten staff events throughout Ayrshire, where he spoke about his experience of caring for his late mother who had vascular dementia. At the events, Tommy highlighted the differences in care his mother received depending on which hospital or social care service and which member staff she would see. He also spoke about his own experience of being her carer and the impact of feeling excluded from her care. Derek Barron, Associate Nurse Director - Mental Health Services, said: As part of our commitment to promote the voice of carers in dementia care, we encouraged our staff to make one personal pledge which could help improve the care they provide. I have been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm shown by our staff to embrace this concept and record their pledges. As health professionals we are often focussed on providing care to the patient, that we can overlook the patients loved. By listening to the patients carer we can help provide improved care which is tailored to each individual and is person-centred. Almost 300 pledges have been collected from the staff events and added to Pledge Trees. While all pledges are anonymous, each individual has taken responsibility for ensuring they fulfil their pledge. The DVD includes recordings from the staff events and also features staff speaking about why they felt it was important to make their pledge. It also includes introductions from Tommy Whitelaw; Paul Gray, NHSScotland Chief Executive; and Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister. Commenting at the launch of the DVD, Tommy Whitelaw said: It has been fantastic to see how many people in Ayrshire and Arran have gotten behind the campaign and pledged to make a difference in the lives of people with dementia, their families and carers. The pledges have been inspiring and we are so grateful to everyone who has made a pledge, and to NHS Ayrshire & Arran for their commitment to the campaign. It has been and continues to be a privilege to work with staff in Ayrshire and Arran as people work to fulfil their pledges and to make a difference. ALLIANCE Director Irene Oldfather said: The ALLIANCE is delighted to partner NHS Ayrshire & Arran and the University of the West of Scotland in this collaborative piece of work. Our mission is to ensure that the lived experience of people with dementia and their carers influences the policy and practice of health and social care professionals. We have taken the message across Scotland and beyond and were delighted when NHS Ayrshire & Arran chose to make a film with us to promote the work. In doing so we give a voice to unpaid carers and ensure that dementia is everyones business. Congratulations to NHS Ayrshire & Arran and the University of the West of Scotland for the fantastic way in which they have embraced the You Can Make a Difference Campaign. The DVD will now be used throughout Scotland as a training tool for staff who are involved in providing care to patients with dementia and their carers. The Pledge Trees are displayed in the dining rooms of University Hospitals Ayr and Crosshouse and staff will have the opportunity to complete a survey in January 2015 to update on their progress of achieving their pledges.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 19:05:15 +0000
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