Team Love Musgrove is a group of supporters taking on the Taunton Marathon to raise vital funds for Musgrove Park Hospital. Love Musgrove is the official charity of Musgrove Park Hospital, raising money to support projects above and beyond what the NHS can fund.

I am raising specifically for: Eliot Ward

The hospital is looking to improve Eliot Ward to make it an appropriate environment for patients with dementia.  It is a 27 bed acute medical care of the older person ward, with on average 58% of patients having a confirmed diagnosis of dementia, delirium or both.

A busy hospital environment can be a confusing place for people living with dementia to navigate. Hospital stays are recognised to have detrimental effects on people with dementia resulting in longer lengths of stay and poorer outcomes.

Musgrove Park Hospital recognises the importance of the environment in patient care and we are on our way to our goal of providing outstanding dementia care by improving the surroundings and training and education for front-line staff.  So much good work has been achieved on the ward with limited resources including:

• Provision of two chairs for patients and visitors to sit on outside of the ward bays

• Conversion of a small linen store to a multi-disciplinary team office to move staff away from the main entrance area.

Creation of a fully dementia friendly environment for patients will make the patient experience more comfortable and help calm their fears whilst being in hospital.