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Therapy dogs make a difference for patients

Chris CraddockJersey communities reporter
News imageBBC A shih tzu dog, beige in colour with brown, floppy ears, in a hospital ward. It has a bright yellow lead.BBC
The work of Therapy Dogs Nationwide has been recognised in the BBC Radio Jersey Make a Difference Awards

Hospital staff have praised the visits from therapy dogs for helping lift the mood of both themselves and their patients.

The Jersey branch of the Therapy Dogs Nationwide carries out regular visits to Jersey General Hospital as part of its work in the island.

It has been nominated in the BBC Radio Jersey Make a Difference Awards for helping people in the island.

Student pharmacy technician Finn Spillane said: "It's really nice to have a nice little cuddle." Suzette Jansen van Rensburg, from the Critical Care Unit, said: "Everyone's really happy to see Perla the dog."

News imageTwo hospital staff members in navy scrubs interact with a Therapy Dogs Nationwide dog wearing a yellow bandana and lead in a clinical ward area. One staff member kneels beside the brown-and-white dog while the other bends down to stroke its head. Medical equipment trolleys and storage containers are visible in the background.
Staff enjoy meeting Perla in the Critical Care Unit

More than 40 volunteers give up their time to take their pets into places like the hospital.

Spillane said: "It can be a bit overwhelming and just being able to have a little fuzzball to look forward to in the middle of the week is just really exciting."

She added: "It is quite important especially for patients because they obviously might not be having a best day these visits are really nice."

Jansen van Rensburg said: "Perla makes everybody's day when she comes to the ward."

News imageHelen holds a black therapy dog, Olive, who wearing a yellow bandana inside a hospital. Helen is dressed in a black and yellow Therapy Dogs Nationwide uniform with an ID badge.
Helen Hamilton said both she and her dog Olive got a lot out of their volunteering

Helen Hamilton has been taking her cocker spaniel, Olive, to La Moye Prison once a week for two years as part of the branch's work.

She said: "She seems to know how to behave with prisoners... they just make a big fuss of her."

Hamilton added: "We do have a laugh but when they're sad, like if they've lost a family member, then she's there for them to just stroke her.

"It's a privilege and it really is the highlight of Olive's week."

News imageRo stands in the library beside a banner displaying the charity’s logo and information about its work. She is wearing a black and yellow Therapy Dogs Nationwide polo shirt and ID badge.
Ro Cox, from the charity, said volunteers deserved to be recognised for their hard work

Ro Cox helps run the Jersey branch and was moved that it had been nominated for the award.

She said: "We were so thrilled to be honoured."

Cox said: "It's for all of the volunteers that are working so hard, week in, week out.

"It's something I've been doing for a very long time, in one way or another, but when you see people's faces just light up, you know you're making a difference to them."

The shortlist of nominees for the awards will be announced on the 11 September.

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