Free copies of the Daily Echo are delighting patients at University Hospital Southampton.
Following a special request from staff on Bassett Ward, the enhanced dementia care ward at Princess Anne Hospital, a driver drops 50 copies of the paper off every day for patients to enjoy.
They are also well read by those staying in the medicine for older people wards on G Level across the road at the General, particularly Saints news, heart-warming community stories and nostalgia.
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Bassett Ward leader Mel Looker came up with the idea. She said: "It’s so important for our older patients to read daily, as reading stimulates the brain. It’s even more important for patients living with dementia to read as it keeps their brain active.
"It is also important for the patients to keep orientated with the outside world especially locally and what better way to do that than with a local newspaper.”
Norman Bainbridge, who volunteers on Bassett Ward and helped set up the scheme, said patients and staff get 'a real buzz' out of the daily donation.
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