With thanks to the generous support of many individuals, companies, grant-making trusts and community groups, we have been able to make a difference for many thousands of patients, their families and carers, and of course our colleagues, throughout this year and beyond. Here we are able to share just some of the highlights of the impact our supporters have helped us to make.
A Dementia lounge project has received £35,450 funding from Newcastle Hospitals Charity to offer a calm and relaxed environment for patients, their families and carers. The lounge on Ward 22 at the RVI will provide a more relaxed area where patients can spend time away from the noise and complex activities of the ward which can be distressing for patients with dementia. The planned lounge will enable families and carers to relax in a calm environment with dementia friendly decoration and will enable staff to be able to provide meaningful therapeutic activities, supporting patients as part of their overall care.
The Sensational Thinking Project is actively working to improve the lives of children and their families affected by sensory processing differences in the North East by working across sectors and stakeholders to raise awareness and understanding of these differences and help to inform practice.
The project is being pioneered by the Children’s Community Occupational Therapy team & has recently received charitable funding from The Great North Children’s Hospital Foundation to give the team the investment that they need to start working towards the multi-faceted aspects of the project and is further supported by NHS England’s Clinical Entrepreneur Programme.
Patients undergoing CT scans and radiotherapy at the Northern Centre for Cancer Care (NCCC) are now benefiting from a range of tablets to play music and provide a welcome distraction thanks to Charlie Bear for Cancer Care.
Support from Charlie Bear has provided 11 Kindle Fires along with apps and accessories to enable patients to be able to choose from a large collection of songs and genres, whilst undergoing treatment and procedures, which can be up to an hour long.
Speaking about the impact of the tables, Dean Ainslie, Clinical Specialist Therapeutic Radiographer thanked everyone who had made the music project possible. “Being able to provide music with a variety of genres to suit a large range of ages and interests has had an extremely positive impact on our patients,” he said.
“The response has been fantastic and it’s been noted that giving patients the ability to choose music to suit their interests makes a big difference and is a very welcome distraction in what can be quite a stressful time. The music has also been a welcome addition for staff too and we are very grateful for this generous support from Charlie Bear.”
Dean Ainslie Clinical Specialist Therapeutic Radiographer
