Overview:
Date: June 2022
The University of West London (UWL) Geller Institute of Ageing and Memory is headed by Professor Katie Featherstone. On the 21st of June they released a report into dementia care in acute hospital wards, specifically pad culture and continence care.
Campaign Overview:
This was a targeted, reputational campaign designed to create impact and raise awareness among the public, health professionals and government/policy makers. The campaign resulted in a wide range of strong reputational and specialist coverage. On the day of the File on 4 episode on the 21 June BBC Radio 4’s PM interviewed Katie. Later that day there was an in-depth discussion of the report on Times Radio’s Henry Bonsu Show with Prof Katie Featherstone, co-author and nurse Karen Harrison Dening along with activist and campaigner with lived experience of dementia, Nigel Hullah. BBC News ran an online story referencing the report and File on 4 episode 'Dementia patients not allowed to use toilet' which was featured on the BBC news homepage.
A number of specialist health publications covered the story including The Nursing Times: 'There is a need for a nurse registration in older people's care'. Nursing Standard Online: 'Patients left in pads, even when not incontinent, study finds', a Nursing Standard podcast on 'Dementia and pad culture: dignified continence care in hospitals', The Journal of Dementia: Damaging 'Pad Culture' and the RCNi Magazine.