Opticians help dementia patients at Great Western Hospital

By Barrie Hudson - 15 July 2021

CharityBusinessHealth

Specialist clocks to help dementia patients are in the fundraising sights of Swindon's hospital charity.

  • Jane Leighton, Major Gifts Manager at Brighter Futures receiving the cheque from Haine & Smith Optometric Partner Mark Saunders

    Jane Leighton, Major Gifts Manager at Brighter Futures receiving the cheque from Haine & Smith Optometric Partner Mark Saunders

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust charity Brighter Futures aims to raise vital funds to improve care for patients living with dementia who have a stay in hospital. 

The Haine & Smith Charitable Trust, the charity arm of the chain of opticians, donated £400 toward the £25,000 target, and the cheque was handed over to Brighter Futures' Jane Leighton by Haine & Smith Optometric Partner Mark Saunders outside the Gorse Hill branch. 

Brighter futures aims to install more than 300 special clocks - they help patients tell the difference between day and night - at the hospital and Swindon Intermediate Care Centre. 

Jane Leighton, who is Major Gifts Manager at Brighter Futures, said: "We are so grateful to Haine & Smith Charitable Trust for their wonderful donation to Brighter Futures’ new Dementia Appeal.

"The appeal will fund improvements to the hospital environment at Great Western Hospital and this gift will help us introduce ten dementia-friendly clocks to make life easier for our patients."

The clocks reduce the anxiety and confusion which can be symptoms of dementia. 

Two models of clock are to be installed, and £40 will fund one of 210 small clocks while£115 will purchase one of 143 large clocks. 

Each displays the time, date and month and having this familiarity has been shown to help patients maintain a routine which can easily be disrupted in the hospital environment.  

Haine & Smith's Mr Saunders said: “We are so pleased to have been able to support Brighter Futures, albeit in a small way. The clocks are a fantastic idea and will give comfort and confidence to those in hospital living with dementia – and indeed, all patients, I’m sure. 

"We wish Jane and her team at Brighter Futures all the best in reaching their target on this excellent project.”

 

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