Patients living with dementia who are being cared for at Walsall Manor Hospital will benefit from the proceeds of a recent charity boxing match.

Funds were raised through the popular annual event, organised by Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust’s Well Wishers charity in partnership with its patron Martin Gethin, former British lightweight boxing champion.

The £2,500 raised will be used to buy a variety of items to occupy and engage patients such as iPads, busy boards and fidget widgets.

Nicky Thomas, from Green Square Accord (GSA) which is commissioned by the Black Country Integrated Care Board to provide personalised dementia care and support, explained how important these items can be.

“No-one chooses to be in hospital – we would all most likely feel anxious, scared or bored,” said Nicky, one of four specialist dementia support workers based in the hospital.

“But for patients with dementia these feelings can be amplified and this increases their confusion and fear. Our team focuses on supporting patients to feel safe and reassured by getting to know more about their likes and dislikes, working with their families or carers to build up a picture of who that patient is.

“We can then engage with them around the things that are important to them – whether that’s a particular sport they enjoy, music, their past working life, their grandchildren, or other precious memories. They are so much more than their dementia diagnosis and their identity matters.

“Items such as busy boards help calm anxiety too and this makes a big difference. We’d ideally like to build up a good collection of items that we can repeatedly use and we’re really grateful to everyone who is supporting this boxing event to raise money to help our patients in this way.”

GSA works with the Trust’s Complex Dementia & Delirium Team.

Georgie Westley, Fundraising Manager at Walsall Healthcare, added: “Nicky and the team make a real difference to our patients living with dementia and we’re so fortunate to have this support in the hospital.

“This is a really important area of patient care and we were so glad to have raised a healthy amount of cash to buy these items that are over and above what the NHS provides.”