Approximately £650,000 of charitable funds were committed to help transform three of Kingston Hospital’s elderly care wards to provide dementia friendly environments, as these have a positive effect on people with this condition including behaviour, wellbeing, social ability, orientation and functioning.

The refurbishment of these elderly care wards is a key part of Kingston Hospital’s strategy to ensure it has the right staff, environment, care pathways, support and systems in place to deliver consistently excellent dementia care. Derwent Ward was the first of the three wards to undergo refurbishment, re-opening in November 2016, followed by Blyth Ward in November 2018. Kennet Ward was the last to be refurbished re-opening to patients in October 2019.

Olivia Frimpong, Service Improvement Lead Dementia and Delirium, on completion of Kennet Ward, said “Just over five years on from launching our dementia care strategy, a great deal has been achieved and I’m thrilled that with the help of many who generously contributed from across our community, we have three wards that we can be proud of and which will help to ensure our patients with dementia receive consistently excellent care. Thank you so much.”

Aspects of the design features incorporated into the hospital’s elderly care wards have been rolled out to other areas, particularly in the emergency department, outpatients and the medical wards, as the hospital strives to become a dementia friendly site.