VIRGIN Care has signed up to a John’s Campaign, which supports the rights of carers to stay with their loved ones in Haslemere and Farnham community hospitals.

The campaign was founded by Nicci Gerrard, whose father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in his mid 70s. He died in November 2014 and she believes her father, who suffered from Alzheimer’s, would have benefited greatly if she had been able to stay with him in hospital during his time as an inpatient.

Allowing carers to stay in hospital for longer periods has been shown to be particularly helpful for patients with dementia, helping them feel more settled.

To support the campaign in Haslemere and Farnam, a ‘Carer’s Champion’ has been identified on each ward to support implementation of extended visiting for carers, and carers can wear a badge while on the wards outside of normal visiting hours so that staff can recognise them.

Carers of patients with dementia will also be provided with a carer’s passport, which will include important information on how to access flexible visiting times and meals during their stay, and how to maintain privacy and dignity for other patients.

Carers will also be shown how to access online information from Virgin Care’s Carers Club website. The club was launched two years ago as a one-stop shop for advice for carers around England.

The campaign pledge has also been supported by Virgin Care’s ‘Feel the Difference Fund’, with a dedicated £100,000 a year made available for projects designed and delivered by frontline colleagues to improve the experience of those using community health services.

The fund will support John’s Campaign by purchasing beds this month to allow carers to stay with their loved ones at Farnham Hospital.

Sarah Wardle, Virgin Care’s managing director for the services in Surrey, said: “We’re pleased to be able to pledge our support for John’s Campaign and make a real commitment to support carers who want to stay with the person they care for at our hospitals for longer.”

Julia Jones, co-founder of John’s Campaign, added: “This is quite simply the right thing to do – and we thank Virgin Care on behalf of their patients and their families for doing it.

“I have a mother living with dementia and I know how important it is that she receives high quality professional care when she needs it, but also how important my support is to her, enabling her to get full benefit from that care. I hope the example of Virgin Care’s Surrey community hospitals will show the way to many others across the country.”