Hospitals across Lincolnshire are celebrating and supporting the valuable role that carers play in the care of patients, by joining a national awareness week this week.
Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. It runs from Monday 12 June until Sunday 18 June 2017.
United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust is celebrating the week with information stands at each of its main hospital sites, promoting the many ways in which carers are supported and recognised by the organisation for the valuable work that they do.
Deputy Chief Nurse at ULHT, Jennie Negus, said: “Carers play a vital role in our hospitals, and we know that they contribute a huge amount to the care and recovery of those they care for when they are hospital patients.
“We have a number of initiatives relating to how we ensure carers are recognised, involved and informed about a patient’s care. This awareness week is our opportunity to publicly thank them for what they do, and raise awarenesss of what we do for carers too,” she said.
The ULHT carers badge project launched a year ago, and is now being rolled out across all hospitals. The badges are issued to carers, and enables them to be at the hospital 24/7 if they wish, to be present at ward rounds and whenever they need to be. They were recognised at “outstanding practice” in the recent CQC report on the Trust.
Carers First has now implemented the role of support coordinators on ULHT hospital sites, who work closely across the wards liaising with clinical teams, discharge teams and social work providing information, advice and guidance looking holistically on all aspects of carers needs.
In addition, the Trust has also signed up to John’s Campaign, a national campign with the belief that carers should not just be allowed to stay with a patient in hospital but should be welcomed, and that a collaboration between the patients and all connected with them is crucial to their health and their wellbeing.
Jennie said: “We have also been working with Every-one, who are developing and establishing a Carers Charter/ Quality Standards Award which sets out key principles in the recognition, value and support of carers and will become a recognised symbol of quality. I’m proud to say that one of our wards has already achieved this accolade and a number are working towards it.”
The carers week stands, containing more information about all of these innovations, will be jointly run by Carers First and ULHT and supported by volunteers. They will be in the following locations:
Monday 12 June – restaurant – Pilgrim Hospital, Boston
Monday 12 June and Thursday 15 June – main reception – Lincoln County Hospital
Wednesday 14 June – dog leg- Grantham and District Hospital
Friday 16 June – main reception – Pilgrim Hospital, Boston