Award for Downe Hospital dementia team

Award for Downe Hospital dementia team

6 November 2013

THE dementia assessment team based at the Downe Hospital in Downpatrick has secured a major award.

Team members attended the annual Dementia Achievements Awards ceremony in Belfast recently where they were presented with the dementia design innovation of the year award by Health Minister Edwin Poots.

The Downe team devised a project aimed at improving patient services and the environment of care in the dementia assessment unit at the Downpatrick hospital.

Although the unit is fairly new, infection control and patient safety considerations restricted its ambience for patients.

As part of the project, the nursing station was remodelled to make it more accessible and allow a greater degree of patient observation. A new seating area was created to encourage patient inter-action, with staff and relatives engaged in helping determine the design and colour scheme.

The Downe team also improved the use of the garden outside the dementia unit via the introduction of raised planters which enabled patients to engage in gardening, an activity which they could share with family members.

Staff also led the redesign of the en-suite bathroom facilities in the dementia unit in ways that promoted patient dignity and made the use of the facilities more suitable to the needs of people with dementia.

The number of falls were reduced, whilst staff introduced measures to reduce noise levels and enhance the environment of care through the use of artwork and colour.

The Health Minister presented the dementia design innovation award to Downe team member Barry Lynch at the awards ceremony.

Mr. Poots praised the work of staff and organisations who have helped “drive dementia into the consciousness of the public, the media, and those in government.”

He added: “We will continue to strive for further improvements and to tackle the future issues that go hand-in-hand with living with dementia.”