A NEW ‘carer’s passport’ has been introduced in some of Dorset’s community hospitals.

The scheme allows carers to spend more time alongside loved ones with dementia outside regular visiting hours, and it is being trialled over the next three months at St Leonards Community Hospital, near Ringwood, as well as hospitals in Weymouth and Portland.

If successful, it will be implemented at Dorset HealthCare hospitals across the county.

Helen Hutchings, the trust’s carers’ co-ordinator, said: “We recognise that people with memory or recognition problems can find hospitals a particularly frightening and disorienting place.

“Having the presence and support of their regular carer can make a big difference, and help us to provide the best possible care.

“We want to make carers feel welcome, and the new passport is something simple which could have a big impact.”

Under the system, carers identify themselves on arrival at the hospital and are given a badge, or ‘passport’,which allows them to stay beyond regular visiting hours – providing reassurance and additional help for the person they are caring for.

For more information about obtaining a carer’s passport email carersupport@dhuft.nhs.uk.