Ward matron sprinkles some magic for liver patients
(Pictured, nursing staff from Ward 727. L-R: Teresa Deakin, Raga Mohammed, Allison Smith, Alison King, Ashley Nash, Alison Ash)
A ward matron at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham has been helping liver and GI patients get on track to recovery, with support from QEHB Charity’s Sprinkle Some Magic grant scheme.
Teresa Deakin first applied for funds from QEHB Charity’s ‘Sprinkle Some Magic’ scheme, which empowers staff at the QE to request small grants to help improve their ward or area with ‘added extras’, in August 2015. She initially applied for a selection of board games, from Chinese Chequers to Connect Four, to help stimulate elderly people receiving care on Ward 726, which treats liver patients.
Following the success of those purchases, Teresa, who is a Matron at the QE, decided to request a similar set for Ward 727, which cares for patients with liver and gastrointestinal problems. The games provide much-needed entertainment for patients who may need to stay in hospital for a while, as well as being an invaluable source in aiding cognitive recovery for patients whose condition makes them disoriented or easily confused.
Teresa said: “The board games went down so well on Ward 726 that I had to get the same for Ward 727. We have a variety of games like Snakes & Ladders, Draughts, and Scrabble, as well as more creative things like Airfix modelling kits. The patients love them – the Airfix models are really popular and we’ve had a few people wanting to take them home!
“I think for some of our older patients playing these classic games takes them back to when they had children of their own, but all ages love them. It brings the whole ward closer when staff and patients can have a bit of fun together, even in a clinical setting.”
Alison King, Ward Manager, continued: “Having the games allows us to interact with and care for patients in a different way. We’ve had nurses and the people they are treating playing Connect Four and cards together as well as groups of patients, which is really lovely to see.”
QEHB Charity have been offering Sprinkle Some Magic grants to staff at the QE since 2013. In that time, thanks to staff requests, the charity has been able to provide lockers for patients using MRI machines, CD players, books, DVDs, headphones and much more.
Tina Hales, Grants Officer at QEHB Charity, said: “There is no-one better placed to tell us what an individual ward or area needs than the staff who work there every day. The Sprinkle Some Magic scheme is designed to help us improve patient experience with small additions that make a big difference. We’re really pleased Wards 726 and 727 are enjoying their board games, and would urge any member of staff with an idea for how to improve their area to get in touch.”
To apply for a grant, please contact Tina Hales at Tina.Hales@uhb.nhs.uk or 0121 371 4852.
