More than 90 per cent of Nottingham hospital staff now trained in dementia awareness

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Our Dementia Choir performed today (May 19) at City Hospital for Dementia Action Week

By Lauren Monaghan, Junior Local Democracy Reporter

More than nine in ten staff at Nottingham hospitals are now trained in spotting the signs of dementia early.

Dementia Action Week runs from May 19 to May 25 and aims to promote fast diagnosis for people living with the condition.

Currently around one in three people in the UK living with dementia do not have a diagnosis, according to the Alzheimer’s Society.

Nottingham University Hospitals Trust (NUH) started a campaign today (May 19) with a performance by Our Dementia Choir at Nottingham City Hospital.

The choir was established by Nottingham actor Vicky McClure in 2018, and uses music to improve the lives of members who have the condition or care for someone that does.

Dr Aamer Ali, Consultant Geriatrician and Dementia Lead for NUH, says the “push” during the action week is to ensure “all staff members [at NUH] be trained to a tier one level [in dementia training].”

Dr Aamer Ali, Consultant Geriatrician and Dementia Lead for NUH

Dementia training for NHS staff is graded in tiers.

Tier one is the ‘awareness’ level, giving essential information on dealing with patients with dementia and their carers.

Tier two is ‘enhanced’ and builds on skills for staff in regular contact with people in dementia.

Tier three is ‘specialist’ and for those working with dementia in a more intensive way.

Dr Ali continued: “We want to make sure that [staff] can recognise patients that are coming in to hospital with dementia, also recognise their carers, and make sure the environment is as safe as possible for patients with dementia.”

Nottingham City Hospital

Dr Ali says 92 per cent of the trusts 19,000 staff are now trained to tier one.

He added the initial training for all staff includes educating them on the early and late stages of dementia so they are able to spot signs in different circumstances, such as corridors, shops and even through carers.

He added: “That’s why it is important that a paediatrician and an anaesthetist is also trained.”

Jess Johnson, who covers communications and social media for Our Dementia Choir, said: “A lot of people will say [people with dementia] suffer, whereas we really try and vocalise the fact they don’t suffer from dementia.

“Yes, there are dark times, there are going to be unpleasant times, but you can live well with dementia, and a big factor of that is music and the joy music brings to not only people living with dementia, but you and I.”

Jess Johnson, Communications and Social Media for Our Dementia Choir

Ms Johnson hopes the action week also promotes the benefits of music for those living with dementia, saying: “Unfortunately, my granny passed away [living with dementia] before I learned that music could be so beneficial.

“Our experience would have been so different had I known that back in the beginning that when she was stressed to stick the radio on and it could have helped bring her round.

“I think the message, especially through the action week, but throughout life, is get the radio on, use the music and really raise awareness of that.”

Our Dementia Choir has opened up a second group called ‘Our Dementia Quiet’, which focuses on people with dementia getting the benefits from music but in a “more relaxed” way, without performing.

People can find more about this at www.ourdementiachoir.com.

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