Therapy dog brings comfort to spinal patients

1 hour ago

News image — The spinal unit at James Cook Hospital has had multiple visits from Kyro

South Tees Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Kyro, a yellow labrador leaning into a woman who is bent over with her face to him. The woman's face is hidden but she has blonde hair, which is brown at the roots and tied back. She is wearing a purple nurses top and black trousers. They are standing on a path with small pebbles on either side. — The spinal unit at James Cook Hospital has had multiple visits from Kyro

A therapy dog has been credited with improving the mental health of patients at a hospital.

Patients at the Golden Jubilee Regional Spinal Cord Injuries Centre at James Cook Hospital, in Middlesbrough, have been visited 10 times by the dog-assisted therapy service, including regular Kyro.

The hospital said patients at the centre have long periods of rehabilitation and often feel isolated from their everyday lives.

Rebecca Garnett, 37, has been in the unit for weeks because of a spinal injury and said the service had a "positive impact".

Funded by Caremark Redcar and Cleveland, the dogs are accompanied by a handler and spinal staff member to allow the patients to take the dogs on walks around the hospital grounds and unit's garden.

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust A bald man crouched on the left of Kyro. He is looking into the camera with a slight smile and has a grey beard. He is wearing a navy blue t-shirt and trousers. On the right, Kyro is looking to the left. Elizabeth Donlan is on the right in a wheelchair and is smiling into the camera with grey and brown hair which is tied back. She is wearing a maroon striped t-shirt and black shorts. There is a bush behind them with yellow and green leaves. — Elizabeth Dolan said meeting Kyro had a positive impact on her mental health

Spinal HDU manager Lyndsay Wilson said: "Our patients can be admitted into the rehabilitation ward for several months, with life-changing spinal cord injuries.

"Within dog therapy sessions, patients find comfort, motivation and connection, as well as improved psychological wellbeing."

Elizabeth Dolan, 54, had been in hospital for eight weeks after suffering an infection in her spine and said her interactions with Kyro had improved her mental health.

Follow BBC Tees on X,Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.