Harrow Mayor’s appeal success The Mayor of Harrow in 2023/24, Cllr Ramji Chauhan, named LNWH dementia services as one of his chosen charities to support that year. His fantastic fundraising efforts bought a therapy system called RITA (Reminiscence Interactive Therapy Activities) for Evelyn ward at Northwick Park hospital, which is now in use. The easy-to-use interactive touch-screen device offers therapeutic support to older people and those living with dementia. It’s designed to engage, boost cognitive stimulation, relax, alleviate boredom and prompt conversations, which enhances quality of life and wellbeing. Patients can enjoy listening to music or watching movies that stir happy memories, which in turn can make them feel calmer and more comfortable in their surroundings. Staff can also add personalised important or meaningful information to the system to get to know patients better, and family members can record messages to help settle patients if they wake during the night, or as a greeting in the mornings. Thank you to everyone who supported this appeal. It will be a real benefit to our staff and patients. (fb)

Reducing waiting times for patients to see a genetic counsellor It's Funding Friday 💸 so we're showcasing how our funding, through the transformation innovation fund, has helped produce new educational videos to reduce waiting times for patients. Genetic counsellors at Northwick Park Hospital identified an opportunity to reduce the time they spend explaining genetic cancer testing to each patient at their first appointment. Charlie Morawiec, 2024/25 transformation fellow, applied for innovation funding to produce seven educational videos, and was successful. “We produced seven videos about seven different predictive genetic conditions, to give to patients. A link to the relevant video is sent to them to watch before booking a consultation. “It means that patients have more time to take the information on board, and they can watch it as many times as the need to. This helps us to increase the number of patients that we see in our clinics as the genetic counsellors can focus on spending time with patients discussing the individualised aspect of their care and can save time on some of the generic information they share, which brings waiting times down. “The team started to use the videos in April, and feedback from our genetic counsellors and patients has been positive. “Thank you to the Charity for funding these videos and helping to improve patient experience.” (fb)