Hairmyres Hospital staff underlined their commitment to tackling dementia with a musical treat and a spot of old-time shopping.

Colleagues marked Dementia Awareness Week with a series of events.

An old-fashioned shop – which helps bring back pleasant memories for people with dementia – was set up in the main concourse

Jane Wilson, senior nurse for care of the elderly at Hairmyres, said: “Our Dementia Awareness Week was a great success again this year.

“Our atrium reverberated to the sound of Musical Minds, a choir made up of people with dementia and their carers. We were also visited by Bruce the Boxer, who works as a therapet and gives great comfort and enjoyment to patients who have dementia.

“Alzheimer Scotland carried out two sessions, training 30 staff to be ‘Dementia Friends’ – people who understand a bit more about dementia and the small things they can do to help people with the condition.”

Among those who joined in were members of Dementia Carer Voices, a project funded by the Scottish Government to engage with health and social care professionals and students to promote a fuller understanding of carers’ experiences.

Jane added: “We were supported by Tommy Whitelaw and Irene Oldfather from Dementia Carer Voices to launch our pledge tree – written commitments from staff to help patients with dementia and their families.

“It was a very worthwhile series of events to help promote understanding of dementia.”