Jess sews seeds of comfort for patients
Date of release: 13 March 2024
An award-winning volunteer at New Cross Hospital is using her creative flair to make life more comfortable for patients living with dementia – hopefully leading to a career in healthcare.
Jess (red hair) with some of the items she has made, with clockwise, from left: Dawn Southey, Senior Advanced Nurse Practitioner and Dementia Lead, Donna Cattell, Healthcare Assistant, and Ashleigh Key, Volunteer Coordinator, holding a blanket
Jess James-Causer, 17, is a clinical volunteer on Ward C56 Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) Frailty.
She has been sewing bells, ribbons, buttons, beads, zippers and pom-poms to twiddle muffs and blankets, as well as making holes for patients to put their fingers through.
Patients find the woollen items have a calming effect on them.
It’s a real family affair too as Jess’s mum Zara James, 38, and her sister Brodi-Sue James-Causer, 14, knit blankets and crochet the items ready for Jess to work her magic.
“I spoke to one of the Dementia Nurses, Donna Cattell, and asked what the patients like to do and she told me about the twiddle muffs,” said Jess, who has been volunteering since January 2023.
“My mum started crocheting for something to do before lockdown and now she can do it without looking, it’s like muscle memory. Brodi asked if she could help out and she crochets the twiddle muffs too.
“We let patients take them home once we’ve given them out – it’s something positive to remember their hospital stay by, and it makes them happy because they can get quite agitated.
“The twiddle muffs have a calming effect which makes people’s jobs easier.”
Jess, from Eastfield, is a real convert to volunteering and also supports the Staff and Wellbeing Hub and Ward A31 Ophthalmology at New Cross Hospital.
The Patient Experience Volunteer Service nominated Jess for the Rising Star Award, along with other staff on the ward, and the lifelong Wolves fan was awarded at the joint RWT Charity and Volunteer Awards at Molineux.
Since August she has also been part of the arts and heritage programme at West Park Hospital, helping patients use their time by engaging creatively by painting birdhouses.
Jess, who is currently studying for a level 3 diploma in health and social care at City of Wolverhampton College, said: “I used to see my neighbour going to work at New Cross Hospital and always thought I wanted to work in a hospital setting and help people.
“Gradually I’ve wanted to look into the possibility of working in Speech and Language Therapy or special educational needs in adults.
“We lived with my grandad, and my mum, who cared for my great nan who had dementia, has given me tips and ideas.”
Ashleigh Key, Volunteer Coordinator, said: “We are so proud of everything Jess does. She is an asset to our Volunteer Service and goes above and beyond in everything she does to support our staff and improve patient experience. Well done Jess!”
Dawn Southey, Senior Advanced Nurse Practitioner and Dementia Lead on C56, said: “You can see the calming effect the blankets and twiddle muffs have on patients, as well as seeing their confidence return – it makes so much difference.”
Amanda Winwood, Charity Development Manager of The RWT Charity, said: “Well done to Jess and her family for helping these patients – what a thoughtful gesture.”
ENDS
- For further information, please call Tim Nash on 07714 741097 or email tim.nash2@nhs.net
