Nurses given dementia care honour

THE dedication of two Ross-shire nurses has been honoured after they were recognised for their efforts to improve the lives of people living with dementia.

NHS Highland senior nurse practitioners Anne Campbell and Lorraine Watson have been shortlisted for prizes at this year’s Scotland’s Dementia Awards.

The members of NHS Highland’s East and Mid Ross Community Mental Health Team are finalists in the best educational initiative category.

The initiative involved holding discussions with home care providers who were enthusiastic about updating their skills and knowledge.

Specialist dementia training was provided to home care staff who deliver care and support to people with dementia in their own homes. Providers were committed to supporting their home care staff to attend training events.

Dementia is described as the biggest health and social care challenge faced by society today. There are 90,000 people living with dementia in Scotland and it is now estimated that 20,000 people every year will be diagnosed with the condition by 2020.

The awards are a partnership between Alzheimer Scotland, NHS Education for Scotland and the Scottish Social Services Council.

Henry Simmons, Alzheimer Scotland’s chief executive, on behalf of the partners, said: "These awards are a fantastic opportunity to recognise the great achievements of projects and teams involved in dementia care and support across Scotland.

"We are thrilled to see so many positive collaborations taking place, helping to address stigma, break down barriers and ensure that nobody faces dementia alone. We look forward to celebrating the work of all our finalists."

Winners will be announced on September 20.