HOSPITALS are on the lookout for more therapy dogs.
Mid Cheshire Hospitals is urging dog owners to sign up for a scheme that connects therapy pets with patients.
The trust wants more people to volunteer and bring their animals to Leighton Hospital in Crewe and Elmhurst Intermediate Care Centre in Winsford.
One such volunteer is Jane Wilson, who brings her six-year-old English setter dog Lucan into Leighton Hospital once a week to meet patients in Ward 27 and the Frailty Unit.
Jane said: “Lucan is a hit with the patients and the staff. Everybody wants to stop, have a fuss, and they all say what a difference it makes to them.
“I would encourage others to get their dogs registered. It’s an extremely rewarding experience and you don’t realise how much of a difference you can make by just bringing your dog in for a couple of hours a week.”
Therapy pet visits help support patients' mental health and well-being.
Many patients who are pet owners themselves find the service comforting if, during a hospital stay, they are missing the companionship of their own animals.
Jo Newbrook, voluntary services manager at Mid Cheshire Hospitals, said: “We have therapy dogs visiting a number of our wards, but we’d really love to expand on this and I’d encourage anyone who is considering it to find out more.
“The patients absolutely love meeting our volunteers’ pets, it’s a lovely experience. They get to chat to the volunteers, stroke a friendly dog, and generally enjoy the companionship of an animal during their stay. It can be a real boost for their wellbeing and mental health.
“Patients will often mention to us how they miss their own animals while they’re staying in hospital, so being able to interact with the therapy dogs really does mean a lot to them.”
Volunteers and their pets only need to give a couple of hours of their time each week.
They will first need to register with the charity, Pets As Therapy.
As part of the registration process, each dog undergoes a temperament assessment to ensure their behaviour is suitable to visit the hospital.
The animals do not need any special training but should be friendly and calm, healthy and well-groomed, love being fussed over, and have up-to-date vaccinations.
Once your dog is registered with Pets As Therapy, please contact the Mid Cheshire Hospitals Voluntary Services team at volunteer@mcht.nhs.uk to sign up as a trust volunteer.
There is a simple application and recruitment process to complete, including a DBS check which is free for volunteers, and the trust provides induction training.
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