ELDERLY patients at Basingstoke hospital took a walk on the wild side when a barn owl paid a visit to their ward.

Around 30 patients got the chance to hold Biscuit, an owl from the Soft Landing Animal Aid Association, who also made several flights around the physio-gym in the Elderly Care department.

Biscuit and his handler spent more than an hour in the department and activity co-ordinator Paula Vokes, who organised the visit, was delighted with the way patients responded.

She said: “The reaction we had was amazing. There must have been 30 patients at the demonstration and they stayed engaged for the whole session, which lasted more than an hour.

“We have one patient who, up until now, has not said much to anyone, but he asked to come along and was smiling and asking questions throughout the visit.

“We are really hopeful that this is some sort of breakthrough. Not only did it get him talking, but it gives us something to speak to him about going forward.

“It’s great to think that the visit has made a difference to both patients and visitors.”

Paula got the idea after seeing the Soft Landing Animal Aid Association doing a demonstration at a pet store. On discovering that the association visited nursing homes to help people with dementia, Paula began organising for them to visit Basingstoke hospital.

Mike Savage, the handler who accompanied Biscuit on the visit, added: “It’s been a really good day. Biscuit has made a lot of people smile.”