Royal Devon and ExeterNHS Foundation Trust

September 2013

Staff newsletter www.rdehospital.nhs.uk

See inside for a four-page supplement

of

photos from the Spring Awards Celebra

tion

News

2

Over the last six months I have spent time doing unannounced visits to various parts of the Trust and staff have spoken to me honestly about the issues they face and their pride in the work they do. I have found these discussions invaluable and they will continue but I also want to set up more opportunities to develop an on-going conversation between staff and senior managers through road shows and staff conversations. From September, we will establish these new sessions and make them a regular feature of life here at the RD&E.

In preparing for this piece in the RD&E News I have reflected more broadly on current events and the tone of media and political attitudes towards the NHS that many people have commented to me on during my visits. Twelve months ago, Britain was celebrating hosting the Olympic Games and, within the opening ceremony, 65 years of the NHS featured strongly in an event designed to highlight the very best aspects of our society.

Each and every day, the NHS delivers thousands of positive outcomes, from the small act of care and kindness for

an elderly and confused patient, right though to breakthroughs in medical research that could impact positively on the lives of thousands, if not millions, of people. The Olympic moment of public celebration and endorsement of the 65-year legacy of the NHS was a source of great pride to many and an affirmation of the value of the work we do.

As the year has progressed, however, the tone of coverage has changed.

The publication of the second Francis Report and, more recently, the 14 Keogh Reviews, has rightly focussed attention on areas of improvement. None of us would seek to excuse poor care but there has been a concerted focus on the negative, on occasion making it seem the NHS is failing and bereft of people who care about patients.

In any human system, there are times when, for a variety of reasons, things go wrong. We must learn the lessons from these events and do our utmost to ensure that such practice does not recur. However, we cannot allow these unacceptable examples of poor care to be used to define the NHS and undermine morale amongst our staff or the confidence of the public. It is your effort, your compassion, and your care that makes the RD&E, our part of the NHS, a continuing success and I want you to know how much the Board of Directors and the wider senior management team appreciate the contribution you make.

Each year, every NHS organisation is required to produce an annual report. This document highlights the successes

Proud of the NHS

n This years volunteers tea party

n Angela Pedder

News

www.rdehospital.nhs.uk 3

The Rhythm Of Life (RD&E) choir has gone from strength to strength since its beginnings last Autumn. A successful evening for family and friends was held recently followed by their first official gig at Chudfest, (week-long Chudleigh Festival).

Their repertoire includes: River Deep, Mountain High, (Tina Turner), Next to Me (Emilie Sande) and a collection of gospel type songs which received tremendous applause from the audience in Chudleigh.

The Choir will be starting rehearsals, again with some new songs, in September.

RD&E Rock Pop Choir

of the last year as well as pointing out some of the challenges that lie ahead. The report includes our Annual Quality Report which details the progress that we have made during the last financial year as well as our priorities for this current year. You can view the report here: www.rdehospital.nhs.uk/trust/documents

So, when you get up in the morning and hear the latest news bulletin or see a newspaper headline criticising your profession or the NHS, please remember the positive examples of exemplary care and celebrate the difference you are making to the lives of the people you care for.

Over the coming months and years, the NHS will continue to feature prominently in public debates. Given some of the difficulties that undoubtedly lie ahead, inevitably there will be times when we will all feel under fire. But, with your help and continued contribution, our Board firmly believes we are well placed to weather the storm and to emerge stronger and more effective in serving the needs of our communities.

Angela Pedder

Chief Executiven Main reception at the RD&E

n This years volunteers tea party

n Katie Williams, who won an NHS Hero Award this year

News

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A counselling service at the RD&E which has helped a huge number of women and their partners is celebrating its 20th birthday.

The Counselling Service at the Centre for Womens Health first evolved as a facility for parents whose babies were on the Neonatal Unit. And now, 20 years on, it offers emotional support for women accessing the services of Maternity and Gynaecology as well.

Vicky Jay, who joined the service in 2002, said: We provide therapeutic and bereavement counselling, psychosexual therapy and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) for trauma.

Other aspects of the service include supportive counselling on the wards, day case and occasionally by phone, supporting parents whose babies are on the Neonatal Unit, co-facilitation of a monthly gynaecology oncology group, staff training and supervision.

Referrals to the service can be accepted directly from colleagues or from the client herself.

Generally referrals received are for support following miscarriage/stillbirth/termination for fetal abnormality, or for antenatal anxiety/depression, birth trauma, decision making, psychosexual issues, gynaecology/cancer and neonatal support.

The counselling service is humanist and integrative, working with relationship and honouring the choices and direction of all clients.

Intrinsic to the philosophy is attention to building and

maintaining the Rogerian Core Conditions; empathy, congruence and unconditional positive regard. Being integrative means having access to a variety of different techniques such as Person Centred, Gestalt, Transactional Analysis (TA) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

Vicky and Louise participate in monthly supervision. This is an opportunity to discuss current client work in a confidential setting, with an experienced counsellor/supervisor. Supervision is a restorative process; it enhances our self-awareness and promotes the efficacy of our therapist-client relationship.

Louise qualified as a nurse in 1990 and is currently a specialist midwife, coordinating antenatal and newborn screening.

She said: We will continue to offer counselling support for women receiving care in the Centre for Womens Health.

We are pleased to support the two counselling students currently on placement with us, and hope to provide more placements in time.

From June 2013 we are participating in bereavement training. This is a mandatory training for all in the Centre and offers an opportunity for staff to consider the personal and professional issues that arise when supporting woman and/or their partners through the loss of their baby, and ways in which they might gain support for themselves.

You can contact Vicky and Louise on ext. 6678. The counselling referral criteria is on IaN.

Centre for Womens Health CounsellingCelebrating 20 years of service 1992-2012

n Louise Swiggs and Vicky Jay

Vicky began her career by attending Art College and working in an Art Therapy department for a number of years. She gained an MA in Counselling while working as a counsellor for Exeter Contraception Clinic. Since joining the Womens Health Counselling Service in 2002, she has gained a further Diploma in Integrative Psychosexual Therapy which enables her to support women clients who have developed psychosexual problems following gynaecological treatment or obstetric interventions at the time of childbirth. Last year, Vicky completed training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) which is recognised by NICE and the WHO as a treatment of choice for PTSD. Vicky is a BACP

Qualifications and Experience

News

www.rdehospital.nhs.uk 5

Staff experiencing emotional and social difficulties can discuss their concerns and worries with a professional in a confidential environment.

Schwartz Centre Rounds are psycho-social grand rounds which explore the human dimension of medicine. They were initiated in the United States over 10 years ago, and were introduced in the UK in 2009. They are based on the idea that compassion shown by staff to patients can make all the difference to the patients experience of care, but that in order to provide this staff must, in turn, feel supported in their work. Rounds are designed to provide this support and improve relationships and communication between staff and patients and, within the Trust organisations, amongst team and staff.

They provide a monthly, one-hour session for staff from all disciplines to discuss difficult emotional and

social issues arising from patient care. With help from a skilled facilitator, discussion focuses on a particular case that is introduced by a mixed panel of staff who were involved in the patients care.

The panel gives a brief summary of the patients case story and panellists take it in turns to describe their involvement in the case and, in particular, how it made them feel and what sort of challenges it may have raised for them, as well as the rewards.

A discussion then opens up participants ask questions, share experiences and reflect on the challenges of care. The Rounds are designed to be a safe and confidential environment: patient names are changed to protect confidentiality and all participants are asked to agree that no names or information shared by colleagues are mentioned outside the one-hour Round. This is a joint venture between RDE and Devon Partnership Trust. We have set up a multidisciplinary steering group.

The first Schwartz Centre Round entitled Never Off Duty will be held on Monday 9th September 2013 in Wonford House Ball Room from 13.00-14.00. Lunch will be provided on a first come, first served basis.

Anyone interested in presenting, contact Dr Sarah Jackson, Clinical lead at RDE or Dr Rani Bora, Clinical lead at DPT.

Schwartz Centre Rounds

The panel gives a brief summary of the patients case story and panellists take it in turns to describe their involvement in the case and, in particular, how it made them feel and what sort of challenges it may have raised for them.

Qualifications and Experienceaccredited counsellor, and is also a member of COSRT (College of Sex & Relationship Therapists) and a member of EMDR UK& Ireland.

Louise qualified as a nurse in 1990 and gained experience of gynaecology on Wynard Ward. As a midwife she cared for women antenatally, postnatally and during labour. Louise continued her career on the Fetal Maternal Assessment Unit, caring for women with high risk pregnancies. In 2006 she gained an Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling and in 2009 a degree in Health Studies. In 2010 Louise became an accredited counsellor with the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP).

News

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The Transformation Team that supports the Trust to improve services for patients has recently undergone its own transformation. Under the Transformation Team umbrella are two distinct teams which work closely with each other and Trust colleagues to shape, implement and manage new ways of working.

The Programme Management Office, led by Gill Heathcote, is focused on seven main projects that have and will continue to impact on nearly the whole organisation. These projects are:

Frail Older People Pathway Imaging Management Systems Patient Administration Pharmacy Theatres / Procedures Wards

Given the breadth of activity, the team of four Project Managers has been joined by Jackie Williams and Karen Toulalan who provide much needed project support to the team.

Martin Smith, who joined the Trust in June, leads the Service Development Team. Since October 2012, the

team has been exclusively engaged in the design and implementation of the pioneering Ward Management toolkit. To enable the team to support a wider range of improvement opportunities, the original team of Alfi Blackwell, Jan Toms and Debbie Ellis has been joined recently by

Russell Chilton and James Hobbs. At the end of July, the team will be at full strength, when Jonathan Probets, currently a nurse on Dart Ward takes up his role as a Service Development Facilitator.

The two teams, PMO and Service Development have been working together on the Ward Management project. Developed as part of the Management System project developed in collaboration with Unipart, an update on progress was warmly received by the Board at the end of June when the Executive and Non-Executive team were taken on a walk-about the hospital to see the methodology in practice.

The team can be contacted at Noy Scott House room 205, or Ext 4868.

Our Transformation Team

n L to R are: Programme Management Office staff, Hazel Hedicker, Rachel Pike (back row), Gill Heathcote, Jackie Williams (back), Nolwenn Luke (back), Karen Toulalan.

Kirstie, who lives near Honiton, was guest presenter on BBC Radio Fours Womans Hour on Monday 12 August. She wanted to interview mums about their expectations and experience of childbirth for the programme. She talked to three families on the unit, cuddled their new-born babies and spend some time chatting with midwives afterwards. During the broadcast, Kirstie thanked the mums and the lovely midwives and staff who welcomed her to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

Kirstie visits the RD&E

n Kirstie has a cuddle with one of the newborns at the RD&E.

n Kirstie with Centre for Womens Health staff.

Television presenter Kirstie Allsopp, best known for co-hosting Channel Fours Location, location, location visited the Womens Health unit to interview new mums.

News

The process for this years elections to the RD&Es Council of Governors is now underway with Allied Health Professional staff and Non-Clinical staff soon receiving voting packs in order to vote for their representative on the Council. Governors play a critical role in shaping the future of the RD&E and every vote counts.As a staff member of the Foundation Trust, you are eligible to vote for a staff Governor who seeks to represent your views on the Council of Governors.The RD&Es Council of Governors is accountable to the local community and the Trust members and the opportunity to vote for your representative on the Council of Governors is a vital part of ensuring your views about the Trust are heard. Governors play a key role in binding together the Trust, patients, staff, partner organisations and the public. As well as influencing the future direction of the Trust, Governors have specific powers including holding the Trusts Board to account and appointing and removing the Chairman and Non-Executive Directors.We will be distributing voting packs to all the relevant staff via internal post, so please keep an eye out for them. Details of where to return to them to will be included but they must be returned to the Independent Scrutineer, Electoral Reform Services Limited, by no later than 5pm on Tuesday 10 September 2013.

Elections to RD&E Council of Governors 2013Have your say! Every vote counts

Would you like to lose a few pounds in time for Christmas?This years Weigh to a New You, run by the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at the RD&E, will begin on September 25. It offers staff the opportunity to achieve a healthy weight and keep it.The ten week programme costs 10. If you are interested, contact Dietetic Assistant, Louise Layton, on 01392 402524 or email louiselayton@nhs.net

Weigh to a New You

www.rdehospital.nhs.uk 7

n The Weigh to a New You team won an Extra Mile Team Award in the Spring Extraordinary People Awards.

The solution to the age old problem of snoring has been right under our noses all along: if you want a decent nights sleep then sing for it.The results of a clinical trial carried out by RD&E consultant, Malcolm Hilton, and several other researchers, show that certain singing exercises help reduce snoring in people with a history of simple snoring or obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).The research has been published in the International Journal of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, an open-access journal.And this research has catapulted the hospital into the international media spotlight with the news being picked up as far away as New Zealand, Canada and Florida.Consultant otolaryngologist at the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Sub Dean of the Peninsula and University of Exeter Medical Schools, Malcolm Hilton, found himself at the centre of a media storm.He said: We received

an enormous amount of interest when the trial began so I was braced for a potential media frenzy when the results were published.Mr Hiltons trial involved 60 patients who were chronic snorers, and 60 patients with mild to moderate sleep apnoea. Half of each group sang the exercises for three months and half had no intervention. At the end of the trial the group which did the exercises improved significantly on ratings of snoring and sleep quality, while the comparison group did not change.The singing exercises help to strengthen the throat muscles. Weak muscles in the soft palate and upper

throat can be a cause of snoring and OSA and serious singers use singing exercises to strengthen these muscles. The conclusion that we came to was that the three-month programme of daily singing exercises reduced the frequency and severity of snoring, and improved overall quality of sleep. The exercises were easy to perform and two thirds of people were able to complete the three month programme doing the exercises most days. It opens up a whole new avenue of potential treatment which avoids surgery, so it is definitely good news for snorers. However, it must be used in conjunction with lifestyle changes. Being overweight, for example, is the biggest, single independent predictor of snoring.The International Journal of Otolaryngology is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal that publishes original research articles, review articles and clinical studies in all areas of otolaryngology. Visit http://www.hindawi. com/journals/ijol/ for more information.

n Malcolm Hiltons research has gone all around the world

Snoring research trial puts RD&E in global spotlight

8Pictureboard

The headteacher of Bramble Schoolrooms has retired after 14 years at the RD&E.Denise Benson moved to Devon in 1990 and worked at Matford Childrens Unit and Larkby Adolescent Psychiatric Unit. She also set up the rooms at Brookhayes Childrens Home and worked at Honeylands Childrens Centre.

She began working at the RD&E in 1999 and, in 2007, took over the leadership of the Devon Hospital Short Stay School.

Her interests outside work include gardening, cats and music. In her youth she was quite the rock chick, counting Deep Purple, Stackridge, Cream and Yes Figure among her favourites then and now.

Bramble headteacher retires

Transforming patient care and public health in Exeter for the better is the collective pledge of the new South West Health Innovation network.

As one of 15 Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs) designated across England, South West Health Innovation has the task of bringing together the wealth of experience, knowledge and skills to improve the health and wellbeing of 2.2 million people living in Somerset, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The 18 core member organisations at the heart of the SW AHSN include:

The Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust

Devon Partnership NHS Trust University of Exeter Northern Eastern & Western

(NEW) Devon Clinical

n Peter Cubbon, Chief Executive, Devon Partnership Trust, Professor Steve Thornton, Dean of The University of Exeter Medical School, Angela Pedder, Chief Executive, RD&E, Andrew Vallance-Owen, Chair of AHSN, Dr Renny Leach, Managing Director AHSN

Transforming patient care and public health

Commissioning Group

South Western Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust

Chief Executive of the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Vice Chair of the new AHSN, Angela Pedder, said: We have an established track record in the South West for collaborative working in health research and innovation. This Network will harness the commitment and energy of all the leading organisations in health and social care from one end of the peninsula to the other, with the collective aim of improving the health and wellbeing of the communities we serve. We hope this Network approach will facilitate and accelerate adoption of research-based learning and best practice to improve healthcare for all.

We have an established track record for collaborative working in health research and innovation.

n The Otterettes from left to right are: Barbara Hutchings, Kate Gill, Louise Crean, Helen Bailey, Rachel Clarke, Zoe Copp, Claire Taylor, Claire Denslow and Marine Choules.

n Martin Goddard and Mike Aitken with the photograph

www.rdehospital.nhs.uk 9

Pictureboard

Housekeeper, Mike Aitken, has kindly donated one of his pictures to the Mortuary to be displayed in the relatives waiting room area. Martin Goddard, Mortuary manager, said: The picture is of a sunset which is bright and soothing for relatives to see whilst waiting to see their loved one. We are really grateful to Mike for this picture.

Mike donates soothing photograph to hospital

A team of nurses from Otter Ward took part in the 5km Race For Life at WestPoint Arena in Exeter in June in support of a very Special Lady. They raised in excess of 800, which will be donated to Cancer Research UK to fund ground breaking research into new drugs and treatments. An extra special surprise also awaited Louse Crean (third on the left) whose boyfriend proposed to her soon after crossing the finishing line and she said yes.

Otter nurses take part in Race for Life

Consultant wins prestigious awardDr Hazel Curtis, Consultant Community Paediatrician in Child Health, has won Healthcare Professional of the Year.

Dr Curtis was nominated by a patient for a Pride of Devon

Award, the countys prestigious new awards ceremony from 107.3FM Radio Exe and Guildhall Shopping Exeter. She was presented with her award during a ceremony at the Devon County Show.

Staff health & wellbeing

10

The Winter MOT for Me Health & Wellbeing Week runs from Monday 30th September 2013 to Friday 4th October 2013. Visit the information stands in Oasis and Heavitree Foyer for wellbeing tips, advice and support and for a chance to win a daily prize. Full details will be available daily on IaN Must Reads.In the meantime, here are some top tips for staying fit in the winter months:1. Have your seasonal flu jab if

eligible from your GP or with RD&E Flu programme

2. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water to minimise the risk of infection from viruses such as winter D&V bug

3. Stock up your medicine cupboard to manage minor winter ailments. Keep a list of useful numbers by the telephone i.e. GP, Devon Doctors and Walk in Centre

4. Have your car serviced before winter starts, check your anti-freeze and ensure you have rescue equipment in the car

5. Plan your route, be seen and be safe

6. Wear appropriate clothing e.g. hat, scarf and gloves. Moisturise your skin to keep it supple and protect it from the effects of cold weather

7. Plan some exercise and eat a well-balanced diet to avoid winter weight gain

8. Do something for someone else check on an elderly neighbour if the weather is bad

9. Plan some me time to do something you enjoy or learn something new and make time to relax

10. Have arrangements in place to minimise disruptions to home or working life in the event of severe weather or illness

Winter MOT for MeTop Ten Tips for Winter 2013 Last year I caught flu which totally knocked me for six. I had always

heard you could tell the difference between a heavy cold and flu and now totally believe it. Not an experience I want to repeat and therefore will be joining the queue to be vaccinated this year Richard

Are you flu fit?

Yes, it is that time of year again when Occupational Health (OH) are planning the flu programme.

Seasonal flu provides vital protection to vulnerable patients, staff and family members against flu. The flu vaccine is safe, effective and offers protection against a potentially life-threatening illness.

People who have had flu are always keen to be vaccinated as they do not wish to risk contracting flu again.

OH begins its programme of immunisation on Monday 7th October and details of the sessions available will be publicised on IaN. Trust peer vaccinators will also be on hand in the clinical areas to immunise staff who are unable to attend one of the OH sessions. OH will also be visiting ward areas to offer immunisation.

To obtain the maximum benefit of a flu vaccination, it is important that you are vaccinated as early as possible as it may take up to two weeks for the vaccine to be fully effective. Please remember if you choose not to receive a flu vaccination you will still be required to care for patients, who have flu.

FLU FACTS

Anyone can get flu Health professionals need to

protect patients

Vaccination works The flu vaccine has an excellent

safety record

The jab cant give you the flu

You need the vaccine every year Pregnant women should

be vaccinated

Healthy lifestyle wont prevent flu Hand-washing is very important, but

wont stop flu

Flu kills Side effects of the vaccination

arent bad

The vaccine

Staff naturally have concerns about the side effects, particularly after the swine flu vaccination, which was produced in quick response to the crisis at that time. In light of these concerns, the consultant occupational health physician has carefully chosen this years vaccine from a list of six flu vaccines available from different pharmaceutical organisations. The chosen vaccine has the least number of excipients. Excipients are generally a pharmacologically inactive substance commonly used to bulk up formulations, speed up the manufacturing process and/or to prevent degradation of the medication over the expected shelf-life. Excipients in the flu vaccines have been shown to produce side effects both in the active vaccine and placebo vaccine. Therefore, in choosing the vaccine that has the least number of excipients (not lowest cost), it is hoped that the level of side effects can be minimised whilst giving protection from flu.

What is it like to have flu?

Staff training

www.rdehospital.nhs.uk 11

The Pain Team has produced short demonstration videos on Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) pump management, to support taught education in clinical practice for staff who have already received pump training.

The impetus for this project came from challenges relating to attaining staff competency and confidence around the introduction of PCA pumps on Culm ward. Traditionally, patients requiring PCA have been nursed on surgical ward areas. The Trust ethos is for patients to receive care in the most appropriate area for their needs. Ideally, Culm wards in-patients, who require Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery procedure, would return to Culm in the immediate post-operative period, and not be transferred to a surgical ward.

Mr Froeschle, Consultant in Thoracic surgery, said: The implementation of this project has achieved the goal of patients returning to the ward most suited to their clinical needs.

Maria Bracey, Clinical Nurse Specialist for the Pain Team, wanted to provide an accessible educational tool to promote staff clinical independence and confidence in PCA pump management. She led the project and developed four video story boards which addressed the following areas of competence:

How to increase a bolus dose

How to change a syringe How to add in a background,

continuous infusion

How to change a protocol from morphine to fentanyl

The videos were intentionally short, taking into account time pressures on ward areas.

The first video was piloted in April 2013 and initial staff feedback has been positive.

Tory Edworthy, Matron for Culm Ward, said: The videos have improved my confidence to manage patients and supervise staff in the use of PCA. I feel that patient care has already improved. The videos can be accessed for viewing on a link for Video Tutorials via IaN on the Pain Management Site.

Julie Murdoch, Matron Pain Team said: This is an excellent piece of work that will support staff in the workplace and help to provide timely access for pain management to patients.

The videos were produced by Graham Slocombe (Medical Photographer for the Trust). Sharon Mulcahy, Clinical Nurse Specialist for the Pain Team, provided the voice-over for the demonstrations and Dave Westcott (TA, Recovery) acted out the patient role.

Maria Bracey will be presenting this work at the National Acute Pain Symposium in Chester this September.

New video tutorials from the Pain Team

Staff in the Learning and Development Service has worked in collaboration with their counterparts in Yeovil, North Bristol and Cornwall Hospitals to design the curriculum and assessment requirements of the new Level 5 Diploma for Assistant Practitioners in Healthcare. The service is planning to start the first cohort of this new, two-year, Diploma for Trainee Assistant Practitioners in October 2013. Wards or areas that have identified a training role should contact LDS for further advice, but please note that individuals cannot access the course themselves they have to be nominated and supported by service. City & Guilds and Skills for Health has just launched this nationally and this new Diploma builds upon and replaces the Higher Professional in Diploma in Health & Wellbeing.The qualification is aimed at unregistered healthcare support staff who wish to aspire to the assistant practitioner role. It focuses on consolidation of learning and on embedding consistently good practice in core areas, as well as the development of additional knowledge and skills through knowledge and competency based units. Further details can be found under Centre Documents from this link. http://www.cityandguilds.com/Courses-and-Qualifications/health-and-social-care/health/3576-assistant-practitioners/level-5

Learning and Development Service helps to design new diploma

n Left to right: Maria Bracey, CNS Pain Management, Julie Murdoch, matron Pain Management, Sharon Mulcahy, CNS Pain Management

www.rdehospital.nhs.uk12

An underused courtyard at the RD&E, near the specialist dementia wards, will be transformed in to a dedicated therapy garden.

The project is part of the Trusts aims to provide the best care and facilities for its frail and elderly patients.

The garden will provide opportunity for supervised walking, informal meeting, simple gardening activity and theatre performance.

This is one of the 116 projects funded by Dementia Friendly Environments National Pilot programme launched by Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt, last October. The Trust faced stiff competition in the first and second rounds of the process from local authority, NHS Trusts and private providers to secure more than 140,000.

Head of Exeter Healthcare Arts, Stephen Pettet-Smith, who led the bid, said: This is a fantastic opportunity to combine culture and the arts, including the art of gardening, to benefit our patients in a direct and unique project.

The garden will provide opportunity for supervised walking, informal meeting, simple gardening activity and theatre performance. The journey from ward to garden will be enhanced by images of active and positive ageing, key and stimulating images from the last 60 years and historic Devon life, forming an interior therapeutic walk, with wall displays and floor graphics - from the ward and the main hospital corridors to the courtyard.

This will provide indoor visual prompts of nature, social history and familiar landmarks. This will also promote

dementia care and link with wider health and social care provision using innovative graphics and up to date contact details along with dispensers for leaflets giving other linked care providers information.

Access to nature has positive benefits for all. The garden will provide memory prompts and meaningful distraction from ward life. Toby Buckland, nationally celebrated gardener and garden designer, will work with staff, patients and family members to design and plan the facility in detail.

Design coordination will be led by Stephen Pettet-Smith. Stephen has a long interest and engagement in the development of landscape and urban environments, having coordinated public arts and environment for the 5th British Garden Festival.

Trust wins government money for dedicated therapy garden

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