Paying bills, keeping in touch with friends, trying out a new hairstyle, watching politicians make idiots of themselves, listening to Lady Gaga’s new album, learning about our health…. How did we manage before the Internet?!
full storyWii-habilitation Introduction Ge-Wii-atrics, Wii-habilitation… It’s not just the kids who are getting down with Nintendo Wii. Lots of wards now have Nintendo Wii machines, providing patients (and their visitors) with a delightful choice of entertainment, physical exercise and mental stimulation. One of the reasons why Wii is so great is that it can be used […]
full storyMaking the headlines Introduction Producing a ward newsletter can feel like a daunting amount of work. But it’s a great way of providing your patients, staff and friends and family with up-to-date information, creating a sense of community, involvement and inclusion and having fun. Newsletters can also be creative, showcasing patient artwork, poetry and short […]
full storyThe beautiful game Introduction Simply having a football that can be kicked around the ward garden is very helpful, not just for a bit of exercise, but because kicking the ball back and forth is a mellow way for patients, staff and visitors to connect with each other. But an increasing number of non-acute wards […]
full storyShared interests Introduction What’s the best way of instantly boosting the skills available to your team, running more specialist activities for patients, increasing job and patient satisfaction, improving retention of great staff? With a budget of £0? It is simply using all the talents of all your staff. What unused potential can the staff team […]
full storyAll my bags are packed Introduction Our first moments in a new environment are disproportionately important in setting the tone for the rest of the experience. Especially when the new environment is one that carries considerable anxiety or even terror. There are few times in life when we are sent somewhere against our will or […]
full storyMake a wish! Introduction This is a simple one! We think it’s really important that birthdays are celebrated on the ward, if the patient wishes. Wishing of course being a birthday theme. Although we’re including here quite a few thought starter ideas for ward birthday parties, they don’t have to be expensive or elaborate. Simply […]
full storyTea and empathy Introduction A mother arrives for her first visit to her son in a mental health hospital. She is bracing herself for some nineteenth century Hammer Horror film-set of a building… She’s put on a smart frock and a brave face but is tormented by what her adored son is going through and […]
full storyCo-piloting Introduction The extent of service user involvement, or ‘co-production’, in many aspects of inpatient care, from membership of Trust boards to imaginative and genuine control of their care planning is impressive and heartening. These are richly illustrated by the ward examples below but we’ll nip across the Atlantic for a particularly radical take on […]
full storyOpen Sesame! Introduction There is considerable controversy about what to do about enabling patients to have appropriate access to their bedroom and the outside world, while minimising risks. There is a totally simple solution – patients having fobs, wristbands, swipe-cards or the equivalent electronic device. These can be programmed for individuals’ rooms, the ward door, […]
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