PATIENTS on the stroke ward were delighted by therapy dog Aero.

The Border Collie's ability to lift the mood of hospital patients and staff alike is "amazing," says Donnah Allard who was visiting her brother Paul Smith, 32 on the stroke ward. 

Mrs Allard, whose brother had suffered a stroke a couple of days ago said: "Dogs can sense illness and patients. I've got a boxer and if I feel down, or I'm ill, he sits by me, completely unprovoked. Having a dog come round really lifts the patients spirits." 

Aero and his owner Lesley Fage are part of Therapy Dogs Nationwide, (TDN) a charity run by volunteers who bring their dogs to visit people who could benefit from the comforts of a therapy dog. They visit patients at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Lesley, from St Peter's Worcester joined Therapy Dogs Nationwide with Aero in the early stages of the charity, around two years ago. "My mum had dementia, and I used to take Aero into care homes, I noticed that he had this way of going from mental collie, to a caring, calming dog."

Lesley said: "Once, a very distressed patient with Dementia had been refusing to make eye contact or speak to any of the nursing staff so I visited her with Aero. He very quietly went and sat by her side and she gently reached out a hand and just started to stroke him. Aero looked up at her and they made eye contact and the lady started to whisper to him, after a couple of minutes she started to sing a nursery rhyme to him. When she had finished she looked at me and the nurse and said thank you for visiting me you have made my day!"

"There is lots of evidence for the therapeutic effects of dogs in health care, especially the stroke unit," says patient experience lead nurse Linda Price. 

"We now have three dogs across the trust, all from TDN, covering 12 wards between them, including the children's ward."

Many patients spend up to 10 weeks on the ward. 

Graham Martin, 79, from Worcester has been in hospital for around seven weeks after suffering a stroke.

He was first admitted on March, 1 and then returned home, only for 24 hours, before having to be re-admitted. His dog is being looked after by family while he is in hospital. 

His daughter Julia Martin said that Aero "is very good with patients."

"My Dad hasn't seen his dog in a long time, so I think animal therapy is very, very good. especially if there is a dog they miss."

Therapy dogs come in all different shapes and sizes, but are all assessed for suitability. To find out more about therapy dogs, or if you have a dog who you think would make good company for patients, visit therapydogsnationwide.org