A ground-breaking initiative to help patients with dementia has been launched at Wishaw General Hospital and Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride.

Both hospitals have joined John’s Campaign, a national programme which supports people with dementia by ensuring their families and carers can stay with them on the ward round-the-clock.

NHS Lanarkshire’s participation was spearheaded in ward 12 at Wishaw General last year and then extended to all wards where older people may need to be treated, including the Emergency Care Unit.

Hairmyres then got on board and six wards which care for older people became part of John’s Campaign.

Gillian Corbett, chief of nursing services at Wishaw General, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting the aims of John’s Campaign. We recognise the vital role relatives and carers have in helping us to offer person-centred care that is safe and effective.

“We’re encouraging staff to let families and carers know they have the option to stay with patients. We have already had several people taking advantage of the initiative and it has proved very worthwhile for patients and their carers.”

Jane Wilson, senior nurse for care of the elderly at Hairmyres, added: “Our pledge is to support families and carers to remain with their loved-ones in hospital. This allows families and carers to be with their relative at any time and stay with them for as long as is needed.

“We recognise that the hospital environment can be unfamiliar and stressful for patients with dementia. This campaign supports the patient, relatives and staff to ensure continuity in our person-centred care.”

John’s Campaign was launched after the death in 2014 of Dr John Gerrard, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in his mid‐70s and spent some time in hospital. His daughter, Nicci Gerrard, founded the national campaign with her friend, Julia Jones, whose mother has Alzheimer’s.