STUDENTS are making twiddle mitts for patients with dementia at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital (RBCH).

The team of nurses, midwives, a mental health nurse and an occupational therapist from Bournemouth University have been knitting mittens and hand warmers with beads, buttons and objects sewn on to them to help calm agitation and restlessness among patients with dementia.

The group, working on a study project challenging students to make an improvement to a local health service, is also urging the public to get involved by knitting mitts and sending them in to the hospital.

Michele Miles, student adult nurse taking part in the project, said: “I found out about twiddle mitts by chance when my mum was knitting one.

“After doing my own research into twiddle mitts I discovered how they can vastly improve the mood of people living with dementia, so I suggested we use them as the focus of our improvement project.”

RBCH dementia nurse specialist Rachael Davies said: “At our trust we treat many patients who are already living with dementia, but who will come in for acute physical health problems.

“We aim to make their stay as comfortable as possible, especially as an unfamiliar hospital environment can worsen symptoms of anxiety.

“We were really excited to hear from Michele’s BU student group, as it’s been shown the twiddle mitts can really reduce stress levels for patients with cognitive difficulties.

“It’s also a fantastic way to support learning, work inter-professionally and pool resources for the benefit of our patients.”

To avoid any risk of infection each patient receives their own twiddle mitt and can take it home with them after they leave hospital. This means the mitts are in constant demand.

Ms Davies added: “Although the single use policy is partly owing to infection control policies, it also means our patients get to take twiddle mitts home and receive the benefits from them long after leaving our care.

“We urge people to get knitting and help us to make this project a sustainable success.”

Twiddle mitts can be dropped off at BU’s Lansdowne Campus, or placed in a designated box in the hospital’s atrium. To get a pattern email communications@rbch.nhs.uk or visit the RBCH Facebook page.