Patients arriving at Johnson Hospital in Spalding who have dementia, or who may be experiencing confusion, are to be offered a new wristband designed to help staff identify when they need extra support.
The ‘Forget Me Not’ wristbands feature the forget-me-not flower and are being introduced at Lincolnshire’s hospitals, including the Spalding hospital. They are intended to provide an additional visual prompt for staff who may be supporting a patient during their visit.
How the wristbands will be offered
The wristband will be offered during the initial triage process. This will happen when a patient arrives at hospital and is identified as having a formal dementia diagnosis, or when staff have concerns that the person may be confused.
The visual prompt is intended to help hospital teams recognise that a patient may need additional help with communication or orientation around the department. It is designed to support staff regardless of which team member the patient is speaking to during their visit.
Why the scheme is being introduced
Zoe Chapman, safeguarding and vulnerabilities nurse specialist for dementia for Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group, said coming into hospital could be particularly anxiety-inducing for people who were unwell and needed help quickly from urgent and emergency care services.
The initiative was originally suggested by Becky Philpott, a Patient Flow Coordinator at Pilgrim Hospital in Boston. Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group said it had supported the idea and helped make it a reality.
Chapman said the aim was to improve support for people living with memory loss or confusion by making their needs easier to identify quickly. The wristband is intended to act as a reminder that a person may have additional needs, helping teams provide a better experience during their hospital visit.
The scheme is relevant to patients and families using Johnson Hospital in Spalding, as well as people attending the other Lincolnshire hospitals included in the initiative. The source does not state whether the wristbands are compulsory, how long they should be worn, or whether they will be available outside the initial triage process.