Two hundred hospital staff and volunteers attended an engaging conference in Exeter to explore how to make a difference to the lives of people living with dementia whilst in hospital.
The event opened with a series of short plenary presentations, including a video broadcast from Sir Ian Carruthers OBE, Chief Executive, NHS South of England, which you can watch below.
The day included guest speakers, all leaders in their field as part of the plenary sessions and interactive masterclasses designed to encourage local innovation.
Together with local South West based experts in the field, the masterclasses were facilitated by other guest speakers who have demonstrated innovation and a desire to create positive change in dementia care.
The masterclasses covered a wide range of topics from the hospital environment to nutrition and the use of volunteers. Matt Harvey inspired delegates by reading the conference inspired poem and Helen Porter, a voice coach and artist with the Young at Heart project, led the audience in creating a song.
The event was concluded by Alison Moon summing up headlines from the masterclasses followed by thanks from Derek Dominey and Debbie Donnison. Download presentations, papers and transcripts from the day below.
Plenary sessions
- Learning from the Regional Peer Review
Alison Moon, Chief Nurse, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and NHS South of England Dementia Champion - Leading and nurturing innovation and enthusiasm
Dr Chris Dyer, Consultant Geriatrician and Clinical Lead, Older People’s Unit, Royal United Hospital, BathFrancesca Thompson, Director of Nursing, Royal United Hospital, Bath - Enhancing the Hospital Environment
Sarah Waller CBE, Kings Fund - A View from the Bedside. Getting it right for vulnerable patients
Liz Childs, Director of Nursing, South Devon Healthcare NHS TrustDr Gary Kendall, Consultant Care of the Elderly and Dementia Lead, South Devon Healthcare NHS Trust - Relationships poem
Matt Harvey and delegates
Masterclasses
Caring with Compassion
- Observational Tool and Self Assessment Tool
Dr Carmen Carroll, Consultant Physician and Dementia Clinical Lead, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust - Dementia Care Mapping
Gail Parsons, Debbie Gillam, Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust
Improving the Individual Experience – Getting the System Right
- Reducing length of stay
Emma Moody, Commissioning Manager for Older People, Jane Buswell, Nurse Consultant Older People and Clinical Lead Dementia Care, NHS Bristol - Early diagnosis care pathway | Early diagnosis care pathway paper
Dr May Ooi, Consultant Physician in General & Geriatric Medicine, Trudi Ellis, Dementia Nurse Specialist, Michele Board, Medicine for the Elderly, Gemma Brittan, OPAL OT Team Leader, Geraldine King, OT Team Leader, Royal Bournemouth & Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - Mental Health Liaison
Izzi Shearer, Carole Sankey, Jane Hooper, Mental Health Liaison Nurse Community Hospitals, 2Together Trust
Enhancing the Healing Environment
- Belvedere Ward
Carrie Clarke, Occupational Therapist, Franklin Hospital, Devon Partnership NHS Trust - Dementia Environmental Project
Tracey Mattravers, Deputy Sister, Purbeck Ward, Dorset County Hospital Trust - Memory Lane day room
Fiona Doyle, Vanessa Gardner, Gwyneth Morphew, Samantha Watts, Dorchester County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Building a Force for Change
- Training approaches
Andrea Fairclough, Senior Mental Health Practitioner, Vicky Shorters, Senior Mental Health Practitioner, Devon Partnership NHS Trust - An hour to remember
Mandy Carney, Matron Deborah Matthewson, Vocational Learning Facilitator, Yeovil District Hospital
Nutrition – Getting the basics right
- Refining the assessment standard
Cathy Timothy, Head of Therapy Services, North Bristol NHS Trust - Think Drink
Dr Tim Wallis, Foundation Year 2 Doctor, Colin Rickett, Charge Nurse Acute Stroke Unit and Rockley Ward, Poole General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Volunteers as Partners in Care
- Recruitment and retention: Psychology graduate volunteers
Lizzy Goad, Psychology Co-ordinator, NHS Salisbury - Patient Survey
Heather Eardley, Regional Manager – South West, Teresa Parsons, Locality Development Officer, Alzheimer’s Society, Frazer Underwood, Consultant Nurse for Older People’s Services, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust