University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB), which is run by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB), is recognised as one of the leading hospitals in Europe and has an international reputation for quality of care, informatics/IT, clinical training and research. QEHB provides direct clinical services to nearly 800,000 patients every year, serving a regional, national and international population. It is a regional centre for cancer, trauma, renal dialysis, burns and plastics, and has the largest solid organ transplantation programme in Europe. QEHB employs more than 8,500 members of staff.

- Updated:
- 26 July 2018
- Location:
- West Midlands
- Sectors:
- Hospitals and Hospital Trusts
- Local Alliances:
- Birmingham Dementia Action Alliance
1. Action Plan
1. The National Dementia Declaration lists seven outcomes that the DAA are seeking to achieve for people with dementia and their carers. How would you describe your organisation’s role in delivering better outcomes for people with dementia and their carers?
We have over 1000 Dementia Friends. Our See Me dementia care bundle ensures that patients receive person centred care when admitted to hospital. We provide ‘All About Me’ documents, and offer a range of patient activities.
We welcome carers and have signed up to John’s Campaign as we have had guidelines for overnight stay and fold down beds from 2011.
A daily patient list shows the location of patients with a diagnosis of dementia on the wards.
We have developed a dementia friendly design template: adopting clear pictorial signage, pictures and use of colour to help orientate patients and visitors to their surroundings.
We purchased two Rempod pop up reminiscence rooms, which turn the care space into a therapeutic & calming environment (the cinema and the 1950s room).
We are introducing Rio china and the freedom plates which include a built in plate guard which will benefit any patients with visual and perceptual problems or those who need to eat with one hand.
The Trust supported Health Education West Midlands in developing its Dementia Competencies and reviewing training resources for a dementia portal.
Good practice is shared through a number of regional and national networks.
2. What are the challenges to delivering these outcomes from the perspective of your organisation?
The major challenge is ensuring that all patients living with dementia receive care from staff who have the necessary skills and knowledge.
- We continue to use numerous opportunities to ensure that staff are aware of the training opportunities and the resources to enhance the patient experience. This includes Dementia Friends and Barbara’s story.
- Continue to review environments across the trust to ensure that they are dementia friendly using Kings Fund Audit
- Ensure patient journeys and procedures are informed by people living with dementia and their carers and are consistently kind and compassionate.
Member website
http://www.uhb.nhs.uk/2. Actions
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Continue to use opportunities to ensure that staff are engaged in training to enhance the patient experience. This includes Dementia Friends and Barbara’s story.
To increase Dementia Friends at UHB to 2500 by April 2019.
Barbara’s story is now accessible to staff on the Trust intranet site.
UHB has been offered 12 places to complete VOICE: A communication skills training course for healthcare professionals caring for people loivign with dementia run by University of Nottinghsm October 2018
- Status:
- Implementation
2018 - Second Quarter Update
2365 Dementia Friends at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham
Barbara's story part 1 is shown as part of Tust Induction with reflective exercise.
All episodes of Barbara’s story are now accessible to staff on the Trust intranet site.
2016 - Second Quarter Update
July 2016
1382 Dementia Friends at UHB
Barbara's story part 1 is shown as part of Tust Induction with reflective exercise.
2015 - Fourth Quarter Update
December 2015 update:
1200 Dementa friends Barbara's story now on intranet for staff to access, with reflective sheet. 637 staff completed
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Continue to review environments across the trust to ensure that they are dementia friendly using Kings Fund Audit
Review the environment across UHB against the Dementia Friendly template including use of dementia friendly china, shared social space, social mealtimes, activity resources, My Life units etc. This can be demonstrated using a trust wide proforma as a ‘see at a glance’ record.
- Status:
- Implementation
2016 - Third Quarter Update
The Friends of QeHB have provided additional for dmentai freindly clocks and art work for wards.
QEHB Charities have purchased 15 My Life Units, these are able to bulild life storiesa and provide music and activities which can be selected for individual patients.
2015 - Fourth Quarter Update
Continuing to make progress with Dementia Friendly environment. Bidding for additional funding.
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Ensure patient journeys and procedures are informed by people living with dementia and their carers and are consistently kind and compassionate.
Respond to patient feedback, complaints and PALS contacts.
Minutes of Dignity Action Group.
Liaise with Birmingham Dementia Council (Patients and carers) for feedback and when developing resources.
Evidence from minutes of meetings.
Observations of Care carried out at UHB on every ward on an annual cycle, to monitor person centred compassionate communication.
Provide instant feedback to wards. Produce quarterly and annual reports
- Status:
- Implementation
2018 - Second Quarter Update
Observations of Care have been carried out on every ward at Queen Elizabeth Birmingham annually for 3 years and annual report is presented to the Care Quality Group.
Following the merger of UHB and Heartlands Trusts, Observations of Care have commenced at Heartlands Hospital with a schedule to complete on all older adult wards in 2018.
2016 - Third Quarter Update
Repeating observations of care on all wards at UHB by September 2017, to monitor person centred compassionate communication.
2015 - Fourth Quarter Update
Completed observations of care on 26 ward at UHB by December 2015 to monitor person centred compassionate communication.