Star Wards Action Network
Welcome to the latest issue of SWAN. I went to the Delivering Race Equality conference and met two amazing women from New Zealand, Materoa Mar and Dr Sylvia alt Vorst. They are Maoris and are involved in providing, campaigning and planning for culturally appropriate services for Maori communities. For example:
I asked why any clients who had tough home lives would be motivated to leave the retreat. The response was that, firstly, they know they can come back when they want to. And that an important part of the service is to help make clients’ home lives more tolerable. News from trusts There’s a brilliant scheme run by Solent Mind in Hampshire – Wireless Outreach Network. Patients in acute wards can get computer training through three sets of wireless laptops. The Internet is mostly used for communication, patients’ own research (including into their illness, its management and treatment), finding a ‘stimulus’ e.g. a walk through the virtual Tate gallery, exploring a hobby, even setting up a learner’s mobile phone! The recovery courses focus on using Word as a medium for CVs, letter writing etc. The qualified tutor and learning support assistant take in digital cameras and then show learners how to e-mail pics taken to friends and family, and even how to design Powerpoint presentations. Some learners take their newly found Internet skills into the local libraries after they leave hospital. Ideas in action – culturally responsive wards Lots including #59 Prayer, faith and cultural meetings and #62 Faith festivals celebrated There’s a whole load of ways in which wards can meet some of the cultural and spiritual needs of patients from minority (and majority) groups. We’re going to be producing a guide to this, but in the meantime here’s a quick run-down of a few of the issues, as a taster: Ward environment
TreatmentFood, recreation and visitorsAll the best
Marion |