Meet Fudge – the RUH's new top dog

She's just what the doctor ordered. Meet our latest canine recruit – a new furry face bringing a smile to patients and staff on the wards at the Royal United Hospital.

Fudge the Cocker Spaniel is the new top dog in our Pets as Therapy (PAT) team of animal volunteers.

Her handler Carole Light said: "Like her name she's a real sweetie - such a good little dog, really gentle and well-behaved, so I knew she'd make a perfect therapy dog. She lives in a family with seven children so nothing fazes her".

"She's been assessed to make sure the hospital environment would be appropriate for her, and her entire health history from her vets was also checked. Once the Pets as Therapy team approved her, I bought her a little yellow scarf to wear to show she's official".

"We've visited a few wards together and Fudge is already proving popular with staff and patients. One patient was really emotional when she gave her a bit of fuss as she missed her own dog at home so much, but seeing Fudge made her day. I'm looking forward to visiting more wards over the coming months, and I'm sure Fudge is too."

Pets As Therapy is a national charity which provides a visiting service in hospitals and a variety of other venues across the UK. PAT dogs and their volunteer handlers visit patients at the RUH every week.

• All breeds of dog can become part of a PAT Team
• They must have been with their owner for at least 6 months, be over 9 months of age and be able to pass the temperament assessment
• All pets must be fully vaccinated

For more information about the charity or to request an application form to join the PAT dog team visit www.petsastherapy.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 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 building a purpose built RNHRD and Therapies Centre and is now working towards a new Dyson Cancer Centre. For more details visit: www.ruh.nhs.uk/fit4future

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