Hospital shortlisted

A WEARSIDE dementia care unit has been shortlisted for a Nursing Times Award.

The Roker and Mowbray Dementia Unit, a state of the art 24-bed centre which opened in November last year, is part of Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust’s specialist dementia care campus at Monkwearmouth Hospital, Sunderland.

Project Manager Grahame Ellis said “The Trust aims to provide first class care in first class environments.

“A great deal of thought went into developing the new unit, using international research based evidence on what works for people with dementia.

“I’m therefore delighted that the hard work and dedication of all involved is being recognised”.

The design of the £10million building included a collaboration with the world leading Dementia Services Development Centre at the University of Stirling, as well as the development of bespoke dementia friendly features by the trust’s own design team.

In the six months the unit has been open, staff are reporting fewer falls and a reduction in the number of recorded incidents.

There is also evidence of better sleeping patterns for patients and there has been a reduction in anti-psychotic medication, which bosses say is attributable to the improved environment and the increased social activities which are now available.

Staff sickness and turnover has also been reduced.

The centre has has now been named a finalist in the upcoming Nursing Times Award for the Care of Older People. It comes after recent gold rating from the Dementia Services Development Centre for the design of the unit, the first NHS building in England to achieve the mark.

The next stage in the awards process is to present the project to a panel of judges in London on September 8. The winners will then be announced at the Nursing Times Awards Ceremony on October 29 at the capital’s Grosvenor House Hotel