The elderly care wards at Good Hope Hospital have been given an award for being dementia carer friendly following a move to open visiting across Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust earlier this year.

The wards at Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield have been given the special award by John’s Campaign, backed by the Observer newspaper, for being among the first 100 hospitals and wards to welcome carers whenever they are needed. John’s Campaign was started by Observer journalist Nicci Gerrard in November 2014 after the death of her father Dr John Gerrard who had been suffering from dementia.

Good Hope’s elderly care wards were nominated by a patient and carer for the recognition from John’s Campaign following the introduction in April of an open visiting policy across the Trust’s hospitals, which also include Heartlands and Solihull Hospitals, which have also now been recognised as welcoming to carers by John’s Campaign.

Helen Chamberlain, consultant for elderly care at Good Hope, said: “Open visiting has delivered many positive outcomes. Ward rounds may take a bit longer but I can get the vital patient history I need much more quickly, the therapy staff can make their assessments more easily and the nurses don’t have a queue of people between 2pm and 4pm wanting updates.

“We are analysing the data at the moment but we believe the rate of falls have reduced and that the more open communication has reduced complaints.

“We are proud to have been awarded by such a worthy organisation as John’s Campaign for being welcoming to carers as it is great recognition for the work we are doing to put patient care and safety firmly at the centre of everything we do.”

Mary Crook, from Tamworth, has experienced first-hand the benefits open visiting has given to her as a carer with her husband currently being cared for at Good Hope.

She said: “I think open visiting is great for the patients themselves as it is reassuring for patients with dementia to have someone there they are familiar with, particularly when they are confused and don’t know where they are.

“It brings peace of mind for all the family as they know there will be someone there to communicate with the patient and the staff and be an advocate for them. It is also more flexible as you don’t have set times to visit so I can get a lift in when my family are not at work as otherwise I would struggle.”

Dr Kiran Patel, medical director for NHS England (West Midlands), was keen to congratulate Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust for the award and give backing to John’s Campaign.

He said: “We are delighted that Heart of England Foundation Trust has been recognised for their commitment and dedication to John’s Campaign, a cause that NHS England wholeheartedly supports.

“As a society, we are beginning to change the way society respects and treats people with dementia. We can change the lives of tens of thousands of people for the better if we can continue to raise awareness, invest in the search for new treatments, and most importantly improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers.

“In the West Midlands, we will continue to work closely with our local NHS partners and ensure that we are all working hard and most importantly, working together, to fight the dementia battle.”