Stagecoach East Midlands donates replica bus stop to Lincoln County Hospital A and E

• Bus stops assist with reminiscence therapy for patients living with dementia
• Bernadette House Care Home in Lincoln was the first to receive the unique addition
• Sixth request from hospitals and care homes across the East Midlands in a bid to provide comfort and familiarisation to residents and patients

Stagecoach East Midlands has donated a bus stop sign that has today been installed in the A&E department at Lincoln County Hospital.

Di Swinburn, from Lincoln County Hospital contacted Stagecoach East Midlands to ask for their assistance with creating an area within the Accident and Emergency Department especially for patients living with dementia to help ease their time in the waiting area.

The newly created space is in the middle area of the treatment rooms, right by the nurses station, so patients can see activity going on and not feel excluded.

As well as the bus stop and a sample timetable, the area walls have been enhanced with tree designs and is  set to include a waiting bench. The area will create a sense of familiarisation for the vulnerable, and bring some reassurance to patients by making their surroundings more recognisable and comforting.

Di Swinburn said: “Because of the population we serve, we have been seeing and treating more and more older patients, many living with dementia.

“This department is a hive of activity, whatever the time of day, and understandably it can be overwhelming for some of our patients. When dementia patients become confused and agitated they tend to wander and will often look for something which looks familiar. Research shows that a bus stop is just that.

“Many dementia patients reminisce and remember times gone by, perhaps when they used to use buses. Therefore it is a familiar memory and somewhere where they are happy to sit and wait.”

Matt Cranwell, Managing Director, Stagecoach East Midlands said: “Stagecoach are receiving more and more requests to donate bus stop signs at hospitals and care homes to help people suffering with dementia. We are delighted to be able to offer some form of comfort with this small token to Lincoln A&E department.”

“We are proud to be able to support causes in the communities we serve and we are grateful to Di from Lincoln County Hospital for getting in touch and allowing us to be a part of this fantastic new space that will make a positive impact on people's lives.”

A&E Sister, Elaine Turrell, added: “We cannot thank Stagecoach enough, they were simply amazing and came to our aid. Di has worked so hard on this and the brilliant news is that the bus stop is already being used by our patients and is really making a difference.

“It is a safe place for patients to sit and watch what is happening in the department. We have also ordered some new seating via our charitable funds which will finish off the area nicely.”  

Replica bus stops to support dementia patients have also been donated by Stagecoach East Midlands to the Bernadette Care Home, Chesterfield Care Home, Kings Mill Hospital, Mansfield Community Hospital and the Health Tree Foundation for hospitals in Scunthorpe, Grimsby and Goole.