VIDEO: My WiSH Charity enhances care for critically ill patients
The critical care team including Esther Rawlinson, centre, with RITA. Photo: My WiSH Charity.
Thanks to generous donations from the community, My WiSH Charity has been able to provide three things to enhance the care of patients who are treated in the critical care unit (CCU) of West Suffolk Hospital.
The local NHS charity has already provided several RITA (reminiscence interactive therapy activities) monitors for patients with dementia but now an additional device has been given to the critical care unit.
Follow up sister for the unit, Esther Rawlinson, explained how the RITA will help patients.
“The RITA contains apps that help improve patient cognition, orientation, distract during a procedure, help reduce anxiety by providing a calming environment and also hopefully reduce the incidence of delirium.
“It can be displayed through a projector onto the ceiling or screen or held by the patient themselves. Music of their choice can be played, relaxing scenes watched or sounds heard, films for all genres and ages, games, craft activities, comics, daily newspapers, audio books and a translation app to name but a few.
“For our longer-term patients, we can also set up an account specifically for them so they can see photos of their family or pets. It helps us deliver personalised care in a technical environment.”
The charity has also provided the unit with an array of children’s books. With titles such as “I Miss You”, “Goodbye Mog” and “Badger’s Parting Gifts”, these books are ideal for opening up dialogue with young children and helping relatives explain in a clear way what is going on with a loved one.
The final purchase was a box of sensory items including stress balls, a Samsung tablet, gloop tubes and other tools to help distract and calm an anxious patient.
Sally Daniels, fundraising manager for the charity, said: “It’s just wonderful to be able to pass all the items onto the CCU. The unit can be a daunting place so giving the staff tools to help make it easier for patients or to help with improving mobility and cognitive skills is just fantastic. The books are also a fantastic addition to help ensure children understand a bit better what is going on. We couldn’t do this without the amazing donations we receive so huge thanks to the community for their continued support”.
To donate or find out more about My WiSH Charity, go to www.mywishcharity.co.uk