A ground-breaking initiative to help patients with dementia has been launched at Monklands Hospital in Airdrie.

The hospital has become part of John’s Campaign, a national project which supports people with dementia by ensuring their families and carers can stay with them in hospital round the clock.

The start of the campaign at Monklands was ideally timed to coincide with Dementia Awareness Week in Scotland. (30 May-5 June)

Monklands Hospital chief of medical services Dr Rory Mackenzie said: “We recognise the key role that relatives and carers have in helping us to plan and deliver person-centred, safe and effective care.

“We’re committed to improving the care provided for patients with dementia, which is why we’ve signed up to John’s Campaign.

“Relatives and carers will be welcomed and encouraged to be involved at every point of care in the patient’s journey – from outpatients to the theatre entrance, during periods of planned or emergency care, at tea time and overnight.”

Monklands Hospital chief of nursing services Ruth Thompson added: “We are delighted to be supporting the aims of the very successful John’s Campaign and would encourage families and carers to get involved and to let nursing staff know if they would like to participate.

“We recognise that the hospital environment can be unfamiliar and stressful for patients with dementia. It can be of great comfort to have people they know around them while in hospital.

“This campaign supports the patient, relatives and staff to ensure continuity in our person-centred care.

“The only time carers or relatives may be asked to temporarily leave the ward would be to allow us to carry out clinical tasks. Other than this there are no restrictions.”

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 campaign with her friend, Julia Jones, whose mother has Alzheimer’s.

Nicci said: “John’s Campaign is about transparent and compassionate care for those who are the most vulnerable in our society.

“We wholeheartedly welcome Monklands Hospital’s participation and are glad and grateful for the staff’s commitment and active kindness.”

Along with the John’s Campaign launch, the hospital marked Dementia Awareness Week with a range of events, including an information point for the public and staff writing special pledges to help patients with dementia and their families. Staff have participated in events across the site including ‘tea & a blether’, pampering and reminiscence sessions.

Chief of nursing services Ruth Thompson said: “Dementia Awareness Week is very important because it gives staff the opportunity to highlight and share the great work ongoing within the wards and departments.

“This gives families and carers the opportunity to learn more about dementia and be signposted to appropriate services.

“It also leads nicely into Carers Week, from 6 June, which is also the national What Matters to You day. At Monklands Hospital we plan to include ‘What Matters to You as a Carer?’, recognising the important role of our local carers.”