West Port Day Unit (Hawick)

Location:
West Port is a purpose designed and built unit for the day care of dementia patients, it is an integral part of the new Community Hospital in Victoria Road, Hawick.

Services Provided:
West Port Day Unit provides day care services in the community for elderly people with dementia.
The Day Unit was set up to meet the special needs of elderly people with dementia whilst enabling them to continue to live in their own home environment. It provides support to families, friends and carers.
“Dementia is the decline in memory and cognitive functions in comparison with the patient’s previous level of function as determined by a history of decline in performance and by abnormalities noted from clinical examination and neuropsychological tests.”(McKann et al 1984)
There are 16 places per day. Client’s attendance depends on their individual needs. Transport arrangements are provided to enable clients to attend regularly – Ambulance Patient Transport and Unit car.

Activities in the Unit:

  • Clients are support to meet personal hygiene needs if required.
  • Clients are encouraged to choose their meals from the menu provided by Crumhaugh House Catering Department, NHS Borders. Dietary advice is given if needed.
  • Gentle exercise groups to aid mobility, coordination, concentration, listening to tapes and enabling assessment of previous. Physiotherapist input, one hour session Monday – Friday.
  • Individual diaries for those who use them, promoting communication between patient family and staff with families at home,
  • Outings in small groups – outing with clients and staff for coffee or lunch, staff numbers permitting. It is planned so that clients and relatives can organise themselves. Relative are all informed about the outings.
  • Clients are encouraged to participate in activities of their interests for stimulation, socialisation, i.e. puzzles, playing dominoes, reading daily, newspapers, gardening, floral arrangements, baking groups, sing song, candle making. Clients’ birthdays are celebrated.
  • Craft – encourage self esteem through creativity, individuality.
  • Clients Support Group enables the members to support each other through their own experiences.
  • Life Story – some clients are benefiting from their own life story through their own experiences. Carers are involved for validation and information.
  • Aromatherapy – prescribed by qualified aroma therapists to suit each individual’s needs.
  • Music Therapy – used regularly for stimulation, relaxation and socialisation.
  • Shopping – reality orientation and assess their monetary skills.
  • Reminiscence Groups – assessing long/short term memory.
  • SONAS – a multi-sensory programme using music, singing, touch and taste to promote interaction and a sense of wellbeing amongst clients.

Staff
The unit is staffed by qualified nurses:

  • Charge Nurse - 37 ½ hours
  • Staff Nurse – 25 hours
  • Enrolled Nurse – 37 ½ hours
  • Nursing Assistant – 10 ½ hours

The staff have undergone special training in the care of people with dementia. Nurses work closely with the Mental Health for the Elderly team, social workers, doctors, home care managers, district nurses, health visitors to ensure each client receives good quality, well managed care.

How to Access Service:
Clients are referred to the unit via social work or the client’s General practitioner and are made direct to the Mental Health for the Elderly Team who are based at Melburn Lodge, BGH. Reasons for referral may include assessment of physical, mental state or social circumstances, review or continuing day care.
Clients are invited to visit the Day Unit prior to attending for day care. All clients have a named nurse who plans their care. After an initial multidisciplinary assessment the name nurse develops a care plan. Relevant members of the multidisciplinary team reassess the clients’ needs and progress after 4-6 weeks, of attending the unity.
The unit provides the venue for the Carers Support Group, which meets every 6 weeks. This is group led.

Philosophy of Care:
“To ensure optimum physical and emotional wellbeing of all dementia clients through a philosophy which empowers each to lead a fulfilled life in an appropriate care setting. This is achieved through familiar staff working closely with clients whilst sharing in care programme activities”.
The philosophy and care is derived from a belief that every client has the right to an individualised package or care, tailored to meet their needs. The aim is to provide the highest standard of care that promotes independence and wellbeing in ever client. This is achieved by:

Continuous assessment and review of each client’s physical, psychological, social and individual needs.

  • Involving the client and their carer in planning their package of care, together with their named nurse.
  • Close liaison with Multi Disciplinary Team members e.g. GP’s MHET Team, Social Work Department, Extended Homecare organiser, Physiotherapist, Chiropodist, Dentist etc, to coordinate the clients care.
  • Encourage consumer feedback to improve the service provided.
  • Providing care from experienced staff who specialise in the filed of dementia care and strive for continuous improvement in their professional development, for the benefit of all concerned.
Remit:
The geographical area covered by the unity is from Hawick north to Selkirk, east to Jedburgh and South to Newcastleton including Denholm, Bonchester Bridge, Ancrum and Newmill.

West Port Day Unit
Hawick Community Hospital
Victoria Road
Hawick
TD9 7AH
Tel: 01450 378028
Fax: 01450 364332