By Isle of Wight Observer
Unpaid carers at St Mary’s Hospital are recognised as an integral part of the care team, thanks to the Carer’s Passport. Introduced by Carers IW, in partnership with St Mary’s Hospital and the IW Council, the initiative is designed to ensure carers receive the access and recognition they need from hospital staff to support those they care for effectively.
The Carer’s Passport allows unpaid carers to visit patients outside of normal visiting hours, assist during mealtimes, and play an active role in patient meetings. This can significantly reduce anxiety levels for patients and help preserve their independent living skills, creating a better patient experience.
Katherine Harvey, of the Carers’ Lounge, explained the vital roles the Carers’ Lounge and the Passport plays in the voices of unpaid carers. “Before the lounge service started, unpaid carers often struggled to make their concerns heard,” she said. The Carer’s Passport has gone a step further, firmly positioning carers as part of the solution. It ensures they are fully engaged in the care process, including discharge planning, which can lead to much more successful outcomes for patients as they return home after a stay in hospital.”
For Ann Hinton, who cares for her husband with dementia, the Carers’ Passport has been an immense help. Sharing her experience, she said: “As a carer, a hospital admission for your loved one can often be unexpected and immensely stressful. Over the last 18 months, I have dealt with four such admissions.
“I appreciated the girls in the Carers’ IW Lounge who were on hand with support, advice and generally making our stay in hospital a less daunting experience. They visited us on the ward to ensure we had everything we needed and that, as a carer, I was also OK.
“By the time of our last 10-day stay in October, I had acquired a Carer’s Passport. The staff recognised how vital my involvement was. Me, being on the ward during the day, reduced my husband’s stress from unfamiliar surroundings and helped communicate his specific needs clearly to the staff.”
The idea for the Carer’s Passport arose from the challenges faced by carers in medical settings. With the support of the Carers’ Lounge staff, these difficulties are now being addressed, providing the much-needed guidance and back-up that unpaid carers require.
Ann praised the initiative and the ongoing work of Carers IW. “I’m sure other carers would agree that this has improved the tough role of being a 24/7 carer. The support from Carers IW, and their outreach teams in the hospital, has been invaluable.”
A permanent Carer’s Passport can be obtained from Carers IW at the Carers Centre, Riverside, Newport. To obtain a temporary one to cover a hospital stay, visit the Carers’ Lounge, which is located close to the north entrance of St Mary’s Hospital and is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm.