Sheppey Frailty Unit celebrates its first anniversary

Sheppey Frailty Unit team

Medway NHS Foundation Trust’s Sheppey Frailty Unit celebrated its first anniversary with a special event for patients, staff and visitors.

The Frailty Unit, based at Sheppey Community Hospital in Minster, has looked after and discharged around 600 patients since opening last January, providing care closer to home for people for people in Sheppey, Sittingbourne and the surrounding areas.

To mark the anniversary, patients enjoyed live music from Sheppey-based vocal group ‘Sounds Familiar’, as well as an afternoon tea.

Among the guests was patient Trevor Bodiam, and his wife Hazel, both from Minster, who praised staff for their ‘’amazing care’’ and ‘’thoughtfulness’’.

Hazel said: ‘’Trevor has dementia and has spent a lot of time in hospital since September. We live just a five-minute drive from the hospital and my son is within walking distance, which is really helpful – but we know when we are not here visiting that Trevor gets the best care.

‘’The staff are amazing and we appreciate their kindness and thoughtfulness – they go the extra mile and we couldn’t be more grateful. Trevor and I have been married for 55 years now and it makes such a difference to be so close and to see him every day.’’

The Frailty Unit is the first Trust facility offering access to the same levels of acute care, away from the main site at Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham.

Hollie Bennett, Ward Manager at Sheppey Frailty Unit, said: ‘’The Frailty Unit is now a well-established and relied upon service for patients in Swale and we are proud of the excellent team we have built and all that has been achieved over the last year.

‘’We have so many patients who are based locally with relatives living nearby who can visit easily.

“This has been life-changing for them as it allows patients to spend more time with their loved ones while they are in hospital.

“The service has become invaluable for our local community in Sheppey and we look forward to it growing and developing in years to come.’’