Health Minister recognises outstanding contribution made by local health organisation to people with Dementia

A BALLYMENA based health organisation has been recognised for its outstanding work with local people with dementia at the inaugural Northern Ireland Dementia Excellence awards

Edwin Poots MLA, Minster of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for Northern Ireland awarded the Northern Health & Social Care Trust (NHSCT) with ‘Dementia Organisation of the Year’ at a recent event organised by the Dementia Services Development Centre Northern Ireland (DSDC).

He said: “I would like to congratulate the winners of each award. It is a mark of how highly regarded you are within your chosen profession that you have received these awards today. Your contribution and commitment to improving the lives of people living with dementia has been deservedly recognised and rewarded.”

Dementia Services Development Centre Northern Ireland (DSDC), which is linked to the DSDC at the University of Stirling received numerous entries but felt the NHSCT nomination shone through on behalf of the dedication shown over the past several years to provide education for staff giving them the ability provide support to people with dementia and their families.

Examples include an innovative practice development programme which established a team of dementia ‘Champions’ and ‘Facilitators’ over the four main acute hospital sites that created an award winning dementia ‘resource manual’ which is available in each ward and throughout the Trust’s dementia facilities. Specific ‘way finding’ signage is now being piloted in and planned for the acute hospital wards. NHSCT also was the first to introduce Behaviour Science teams to Northern Ireland to work with people with dementia and care staff in community homes, which has greatly reduced the need for hospital admissions. The intensive support and education given to the care home staff in this model also greatly improves their skills and knowledge. Other Trusts have now followed suit and new booklets have been devised to help GP’s and community residential staff to confidentially and appropriately work with behavioural and psychological systems of dementia.

Professor June Andrews, Director of DSDC said: “These awards provide a rare opportunity to recognise the contributions of professionals and carers alike. Given the strength of the applications these were tough decisions. DSDC is all about working with others to improve the lives of people with dementia. The winners are to be congratulated for making a real difference to people’s lives by actually putting into practice what we know works well.”

The awards were part of the Dementia 2012 seminar which involved up to 270 health and social care workers from mostly Health Trusts and private organisations, with a few voluntary organisations represented. Funding was provided by DHSSPS and Atlantic Philanthropies to make this a free event with the aim of celebrating and sharing the good working practice in Dementia care within Northern Ireland.

The event included an address from Fionnuala Mc Andrew OBE, Director of Social Care and Children from the Health and Social Care Board and a video clip from Claire Keatinge, Commissioner for Older People in Northern Ireland as well as interactive workshop sessions from dementia experts on training, research, arts and dementia friendly design.

Other awards categories included – Carer of the Year, Support Worker of the Year, Team of the Year, Dementia Design Innovation of the Year, Education and Training Programme, Dementia and the Arts and Support Worker of the Year.

The Dementia Services Development Centre in Belfast has been operational for 5 years. It has been funded by Atlantic Philanthropies and the Department Health, Social Services and Public Safety. It provides training and consultancy for anyone working with people with dementia by providing a range of training programmes.More information on the work of Dementia Services Development Centre Northern Ireland can be found at www.dementiacentreni.org.

There are currently 19,000 people living with dementia in Northern Ireland, this figure is expected to rise to 61,000 by 2051.