Carers stay close to loved ones in hospital

Carers will have more opportunities to ‘play an active role’ in the care of a loved one during a hospital stay thanks to the launch of the Carers' Passport.

Guy’s and St Thomas’ Carers' Passport has been developed in recognition of John’s Campaign, which promotes carers staying with dementia patients while they are in hospital. The Trust's passport is open to any carer whose contribution would significantly improve the patient's care at our hospitals.

Elizabeth Willis, a Dementia and Delirium Clinical Nurse Specialist, says: “No one knows the patient better than their family or loved one. Involving carers is not only reassuring and helpful for patients but their invaluable knowledge of the patient helps to inform the staff caring for them.

"We know carers who play an active role in a patient’s time in hospital can have significant benefits. For example a carer might stay longer to help settle the patient before bed, provide reassurance before a procedure like an x-ray or encourage and assist them to eat at mealtimes.”

Guy's and St Thomas' is one of 250 NHS trusts to have signed up to John’s Campaign. All three NHS trusts in King’s Health Partners - Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust - have signed up to the campaign in order to improve patient care.

The Carers’ Passport is available on all of our hospital wards. To find out more contact the Safeguarding Team on extension 53293 or [email protected].