If being in hospital is an anxious and often lonely time for patients and their relatives, imagine if the patient has cognitive impairment or is at a palliative-care stage of their life. How frightening might this be? How do we make a stay in hospital for those who are most confused and vulnerable less scary, and how do we make the end of a life better and kinder both for the person who is dying and those they leave behind?
This question was the catalyst that inspired a group of like-minded people at Pinderfields hospital in Wakefield (the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust) to look at what support they currently provide for their most vulnerable patients and their families. Overwhelmingly, families want to stay with their loved one at the end of their life and yet historically there has been no provision made for families or carers of vulnerable patients in order to do this.
Family sleep-over rooms are based on each floor level in the hospital, but these are separate and unattached to the patient. Feedback from families showed that they would much prefer to be physically close to their loved ones, to provide personal comfort, touch and support; to be there together at this time of need. This ideal was made real and tangible with the implementation of six beautiful family-support suites across three elderly care wards at the hospital.
The aim was to provide a safe and caring environment which did not feel like a hospital. The facilities would replicate a home, decorated with a mural to bring nature into the room. Staff wanted to create a restful and therapeutic environment, incorporating soothing colours and art work. Each room has a fitted wardrobe complete with fold-away bed. This enables relatives to stay overnight and be directly near their loved ones .There’s a wall-mounted TV and DVD player for entertainment plus music and a comfortable recliner chair.
Recent feedback from a family stated their father was able to watch his favourite opera singer right up until the last minutes before he died. A bespoke comfort pack, containing items such as soap, toothbrush, toothpaste etc, is provided for families who may be on the premises for an extended period of time. And all families and carers are equipped with a carer’s passport that supports and values them as individuals.
The trust does not have the luxury of ring-fencing these unique rooms, and there are times when they are accessed by patients who do not fulfil this criteria. An information poster ensures all patients and carers using the room understand that in this situation they may be asked to transfer to a different room.
The feedback from patients and carers has been really positive. A recent example being: “We were able to stay with our father day and night, in a lovely, peaceful and calming environment which allowed us, as a family, to give our father the support he needed at a difficult and emotional time, this time was very precious to us all.”
Staff at the trust say they are very proud of the new facilities and believe the rooms reflect the principles of humane, respectful and compassionate care associated with John’s Campaign.