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Dementia Patients Get Pagers in A&E Waiting Rooms
12 Oct
Summary
- A new pager system aims to reduce distress for dementia patients in A&E.
- Patients can leave waiting rooms while keeping their place in the queue.
- The 'Wait Well' trial could soon start at University Hospital Coventry.
A novel 'Wait Well' scheme is being proposed to improve the A&E experience for dementia patients. This initiative, pioneered by dementia nurse Victoria McGrath, involves providing patients with pagers. These devices would allow individuals assessed as clinically stable to temporarily leave the waiting area, perhaps to visit the hospital chapel or garden, while retaining their place in line.
The goal is to reduce the significant distress dementia patients often face in the volatile and overwhelming A&E environment. McGrath highlighted that some patients can wait up to 28 hours, a prolonged period that can exacerbate their condition.
The pilot program is anticipated to launch at University Hospital Coventry. If successful, there are long-term aspirations to implement this system across the UK. Rugby MP John Slinger has expressed interest and met with McGrath to discuss the proposal further. Funding decisions are currently pending.
