A good night’s sleep can make all the difference, especially for patients undergoing cancer treatment. That’s why The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre (CCC) has launched an innovative Sleep Pack initiative to help inpatients enjoy better rest during their hospital stay.
The packs are designed to promote better-quality sleep, enhancing the patient experience and, hopefully, improving the effectiveness of treatment.
This initiative was developed by Occupational Therapist Emily Anderson, supported by the CCC Innovation Team and Clatterbridge Cancer Charity. Each pack contains items to aid restful sleep, including ear plugs, an eye mask, pillow spray, and soothing scents all designed to help patients relax and drift off more easily.
Thanks to charity funding, Emily has created an initial batch of 71 packs, which she is now distributing to suitable patients on Ward 3, where she works. If any staff member at CCC has a patient who could benefit from a Sleep Pack, Emily would love to hear from you.
Emily explained: “Sleep is really important for our patients as fatigue is a common symptom of cancer and its treatment. However, we know that some patients find it difficult to achieve good-quality sleep in hospital due to interruptions during the night.”
“A lack of sleep can interfere with engagement in essential therapies such as Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy. Many patients tell us they feel too tired to participate in therapy sessions and highlight how sleep interruptions negatively affect their overall hospital experience. So, I thought we should give them something that improves restful sleep.
“We conducted a patient survey to find out how we could help, and the result is these Sleep Packs, which we are now rolling out on a limited basis. Hopefully, with further funding, we can make them available to all patients across CCC.”
Emily submitted her idea through the CCC ‘Be Innovative’ scheme, which was then refined with feedback from the CREATE staff innovations group. It later was given the green light from CCC’s Innovation Committee, turning a great concept into a reality for our patients.
Simon Bunting, CCC’s Innovation Manager, praised the project, saying: “Emily came to us with a clear problem and had a practical solution. Fatigue is a huge challenge for our patients, and improving sleep can make a real difference to their experience and recovery. We’re proud to support this initiative and are now exploring additional funding, including potential future sponsorship to make Sleep Packs available to all inpatients.”
