Carers Week at the RUH

The Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust (RUH) is raising awareness of the support available for local carers during Carers Week 2018.

Carers Week begins on Monday June 11 and is an annual campaign to recognise the contribution carers make to families and communities throughout the UK. Around 6.5 million people in the UK are carers, looking after a parent, partner, child or friend.

Sharon Manhi, Lead for Patient and Carer Experience said: "When a loved one is in hospital, the caring doesn't stop and carers need our support too. This includes being involved in decisions about their loved ones care and treatment, thinking about what support the carer might need when their loved one leaves hospital and making sure that carers look after their own health and wellbeing."

We work with staff, volunteers and local organisations to support carers. In the main entrance we have our Carer Hub, a one-stop-shop with help and advice from experts in a range of areas for carers of all ages. The Carer Hub is a partnership between the RUH, Friends of the RUH, Bath & North East Somerset Carers' Centre and Carer Support Wiltshire, with support from other local Carers' Centres.

Other initiatives include family and carer boards in wards which bring together in one place useful information about the Carer Hub, mealtimes for patients, security of valuables, recliner chairs for relatives to stay overnight and contact details for the ward. Our Carer Hub volunteers also visit the wards to speak to carers and signpost them to additional support and organisations.

Future initiatives at the RUH include the launch of our Carers café, which the Friends of the RUH will announce very soon. We are working on developing a Carers Charter, which will highlight our commitment to carers and share what support is available. We're also proud to support John's Campaign, recognising the right of people with dementia to be supported by their carers in hospital.

Sharon Manhi said: "We're delighted to support John's Campaign. Coming into hospital can be particularly frightening for patients who have dementia, as the unfamiliar surroundings, sounds and people can be unsettling. Carers and families of people living with dementia are welcome on our wards at all times, including staying overnight. Our commitment is to listen, and to do what we can to support you in providing ongoing care to your relative or friend. After all, you know the person best."

This Carers Week is the perfect time to highlight John's Campaign, the developments we're making for our carers, say thank you to people who care for family members, friends, neighbours or complete strangers and also to ensure that they have the support they need.

For more information about Carers Week go to: www.carersweek.org

ENDS

Notes to Editor

• The Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust provides acute treatment and care for a catchment population of around 500,000 people in Bath, and the surrounding towns and villages in North East Somerset and Western Wiltshire. The hospital provides healthcare to the population served by four Clinical Commissioning Groups: Bath & North East Somerset CCG, Wiltshire CCG, Somerset CCG and South Gloucestershire CCG.
• The Trust has 759 beds and a comprehensive range of acute services including medicine and surgery, services for women and children, accident and emergency services, and diagnostic and clinical support services.
• In 2015 The Royal United Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was acquired the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases (RNHRD) NHS Foundation Trust. The RNHRD treats patients from across the country offering services in rheumatology, chronic pain, chronic fatigue syndrome/ME, cancer related fatigue and fatigue linked to other long term conditions such as multiple sclerosis.
• The RUH is changing - we have an exciting programme of redevelopment underway transforming our site and further improving the services we provide. The Trust is now working towards building a purpose built RNHRD and Therapies Centre and a new Dyson Cancer Centre. For more details visit: www.ruh.nhs.uk/fit4future
• 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
  www.carersweek.org
• John's Campaign was founded after the death of Dr John Gerrard in November 2014. Johnʹs Campaign supports the right of people with dementia to be supported by their carers in hospital.
  johnscampaign.org.uk

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