A SPECIAL bus designed to demonstrate what it’s like to have dementia is set to visit Furness General Hospital in Barrow.

The ‘Virtual Dementia Tour’ bus will enable members of staff to ‘walk in the shoes’ of their patients and enhance the care that they provide to people living with dementia.

Dianne Smith, Dementia Matron for University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT), said: “I’ve been on the Virtual Dementia Tour bus and it was extremely enlightening and educational.

“It gives you the experience of having dementia yourself so you can empathise more deeply with patients. You are made to feel very vulnerable, fearful and overwhelmed. You are put into a situation where you don’t feel as if you have control.”

Thirty six members of staff will go on the bus at each of UHMBT’s sites and participants will be split into groups of six. The bus will visit Barrow on Thursday, September 12, Lancaster on Tuesday, September 10 and Kendal on Wednesday, September 11.

Each tour will take approximately two hours and learning will be shared at the end of the sessions so that staff can look at ways of enhancing hospital care. The initiative demonstrates UHMBT’s commitment o providing the best possible care for people living with dementia in Barrow and across Morecambe Bay.

UHMBT is also involved in the new Barrow and District Dementia Hub at the Living Well Centre on Duke Street.

The Barrow hub gives people in the local community an opportunity to meet professionals from organisations such as the NHS Memory Clinic, Alzheimer’s Society, Integrated Care Communities (ICC), Age UK South Lakeland, Furness Carers, Dignity in Dementia, Barrow Blind Society, Barrow Fire Service, independent care providers and many more.

Dianne added: “Our Barrow dementia hub is a ‘one-stop-shop’ for information and support.

“People can ask professionals about any aspect of managing care for someone with dementia. They can also ask for advice about getting a diagnosis and where to find services.

“There is an area in the hub where people can sit and chat with other people in a similar position to them. What’s nice is that people often end up supporting each other.

The Barrow hub is run by the Barrow Integrated Care Community - a group of local healthcare organisations including GP surgeries and District Nurses - and led by Maxine Baron from UHMBT and her team.

The next Barrow and District Dementia Hub will be at the Living Well Centre on Duke Street on Wednesday, July 24, from 1pm to 3pm. The hubs are held on the fourth Wednesday of every month.

To contact the hub please call 07779 436 546 or email barrowcaresaboutdementia@gmail.com.