Members of Staff Emma Feely and Sue Bennett will both be running marathons this weekend to raise money for SaTH Charity.
Emma Feely, who is running the Virtual London Marathon, said” I’m raising funds to support the Dementia Team at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals. They do really valuable work and need extra resources.
My wonderful Grandad passed away in November, and he (& we) lived with Alzheimer’s for several years before his death. He was admitted to RSH & PRH and required extra care & support due to his condition.
I’d like to help the Dementia Team to make patients feel more settled and to provide comfort to Dementia patients and their families.”
Karen Breese, Dementia Care Clinical Specialist said “An acute general hospital can be a disorientating and often frightening place for anyone, but this may be considerably worse for someone who is living with dementia. The stress often of an unfamiliar environment and the constant challenge the person faces in understanding what is happening can be overwhelming.
“We try to provide appropriate activities to support stimulation to help people to remain alert and motivated. Activities can also reduce like agitation, repeated questions, and anger. This keeps people engaged and occupied as well as giving them a way to use their energy in a positive way.”
Sue Bennett is heading north to complete the Loch Ness Marathon. She is raising money for Veteran Awareness at SaTH and said “I am a Medical Secretary of, let’s say mature years, who started a couch to 5K and with the help and support of some amazing people along the way have managed to go from 5K then a few 10k.
I did a half marathon in my home city of Liverpool but that was quite definitely the most I was ever going to do until lunch one day in the PRH canteen when Ann from Pharmacy asked if I fancied Loch Ness…
So this is my first and quite possibly my last marathon. I am not fast (Liverpool half took 3.28.55 those numbers are Important!) and most certainly won’t be pretty but this is something I believe we need to raise awareness of; I have not served myself but my husband was RAF for 30 years, our son is now Navy and was part of the fabulous Portering Team here at PRH for years through 6th form and university, my dad and cousins were in the Army and a great (+++) uncle was a WO in Bomber Command – this is something very close to my heart.”
Dr. Kevin Eardley, a Consultant Physician and Nephrologist at SaTH and a Major with 202 Field Hospita, said “Our aim is to have ensure Veterans feel their military service is valued, and staff looking after them understand their particular needs and are equipped to help them access services made available to them in recognition of their service to the Country.
We have therefore set ourselves a number of objectives over the coming months and years. These are:
- for every member of staff to have received Veteran Aware training and so made aware of why Veterans might have particular needs consequent of their services
- to ensure that every patient who wishes to be recognised as a Veteran is identified on electronic systems in support of them accessing Veteran Aware services during their admission and in any future admission
- those in particular need are identified and with Consent referred for multiagency case management
The funds raised by Sue will be used to help us achieve these aims through the provision of Veteran Awareness staff and patient literature and educational material.
To sponsor Emma or Sue please follow the links below: