The family of an Edwinstowe man have raised thousands of pounds in his memory to improve dementia care.

Former economics lecturer Brian Elgie, who was living with dementia and receiving care at King’s Mill Hospital in Sutton, died in October 2023, aged 75.

Since Brian’s death, his wife, Mary, and daughters, Dr Kerry Elgie and Ffion Hawke, have raised £6,627.19 for Sherwood Forest Hospitals Charity through their fundraising initiative, Brian’s Brain.

Some of the money has been used to provide:
A campaign pack comprising banners and posters to promote the Dementia Specialist Team to both patients and staff, as well as information packs for all wards.
Posters promoting a survey that obtains feedback from patients and carers/ families living with dementia.
A full-day training session for the trust’s Dementia Champions.
Dementia pocketbook guides for all clinical staff.

There are plans to put the remaining funds towards further resources and initiatives to support patients and families throughout their inpatient and outpatient journeys, as well as supporting the education of the workforce.

Brian’s story, which highlighted many recent improvements that have been made to dementia care within the trust, including changes to dementia training for trust staff, was shared at a recent board meeting. Tier 1 dementia training is now accessible for the whole workforce through online learning and Dementia Champions on each ward are supported to complete Tier 2 training.

Georgina Goulding, Admiral Nurse in the Dementia Specialist Team, said: “By working with Brian’s family and as a direct result of the money they have raised, we are improving care for other patients and their loved ones.

“Since meeting the Elgie family we have developed posters, banners, and information packs to raise awareness of the team across the trust.”

A new Dementia Strategy is due to be published soon, which will recognise the work already undertaken by the trust and build on these foundations to further improve hospital services by outlining how to prepare and equip staff to deliver outstanding high-quality care.

The specialist team holds monthly drop-in clinics across the trust’s three hospital sites for people to ask questions, receive signposting to services and information, get emotional support, and potentially avoid a hospital admission.

The next drop-in clinics are at King’s Mill Hospital on 3rd June, 1st July and 5th August; Mansfield Community Hospital on 6th June, 4th July and 1st August; and Newark Hospital on 5th June, 3rd July and 7th August. All take place from 10am to 12noon.

If you or your loved one is a Sherwood Forest Hospitals’ patient living with dementia and needs support, you can contact the team at [email protected]

To support Sherwood Forest Hospitals Charity, go to www.sfh-tr.nhs.uk/charity