Music, dance and pet therapy were all part of the package during a week highlighting the importance of positive patient experience.

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust ran a series of events in both Stepping Hill Hospital and the community for Experience of Care Week, which celebrates the work t taking place across health and social care which improves experiences of care for patients, families, carers and staff.

Organised by the trust’s patient experience team, the week included a visit by friendly therapy dog Callie to patients on Stepping Hill’s medical wards, who brought a big smile to everyone’s face with her soft and gentle nature. There were also live musical therapy sessions at the Bluebell Ward at the Meadows Hospital in Offerton. The soothing nature of both pet visits and music can have a highly therapeutic effect for many patients.

Other events included also a carer’s drop in session at Stepping Hill Hospital’s memory café which provides a calming environment for patients with dementia, and promotion for the trust’s new veteran’s passport scheme which is being introduced to provide more tailored and responsive care for veterans of the armed forces.

The week finished off with a tea dance at the hospital’s restaurant with guidance and lessons from the Hot Feet dance studio, which had a great response from staff, patients and families alike.

Matron for patient experience Emma Rogers said “Creating a positive patient environment isn’t only about making hospital stays more pleasant, it’s been proven to improve health outcomes too. Experience of Care week has been a fabulous showcase for the work we do to make care personal for our patients, and to keep them at the heart of all we do.”