Trust introduces new scheme to support patients with dementia

A new scheme is being introduced in East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust’s hospitals to support patients with dementia and memory impairment.

Called The Butterfly Scheme, it aims to improve patient safety and wellbeing by teaching staff to offer a positive and appropriate response to people with memory impairment.  When a patient with dementia or memory problems, or their carer, opts into the scheme, a discreet butterfly symbol alerts all staff to follow a special response plan, known as REACH.

The Butterfly Scheme was devised by a carer whose mother had dementia, following two years of consultation with hundreds of people with dementia and their carers; it is now established in over 140 hospitals across the UK. The scheme also supports anyone whose memory isn’t as reliable as it used to be, or whose current medical condition is causing them to feel confused.

The Trust introduced the scheme at Conquest Hospital and Eastbourne DGH at the end of September, with community hospitals to follow in late October.

Elaine Lindfield, Dementia Care Lead for the Trust, said: “The scheme has been introduced in hospitals across the country and the opt-in rate when people are offered the scheme is consistently near 100%, showing that carers very much appreciate the scheme. We expect the take-up to be similarly high in our hospitals.

“The scheme will inform and prompt staff to provide the best possible care to patients with dementia and/or memory impairment by following the special response plan. Dementia or memory problems are not always easy to identify and support in the way that the person requires, but this scheme will involve all staff throughout the Trust and the butterfly symbol will alert staff to give the appropriate care.”

For more information visit http://www.butterflyscheme.org.uk/ online.