A Lanarkshire hospital is in the running for two awards thanks to the staff’s commitment to helping patients with dementia.

Wishaw General Hospital has scooped two of the three available nominations in the acute care initiative category of Scotland’s Dementia Awards.

One nomination marks the hospital becoming the first in Scotland to adopt John’s Campaign, an initiative that supports people with dementia by ensuring their families and carers can stay with them on the ward round the clock. The second is for its Meaningful Activity Club for patients.

Gillian Corbett, chief of nursing services at Wishaw General, said: “Both nominations are a great tribute to the hospital staff.

“We were delighted to be the first hospital in Scotland to introduce John’s Campaign last year and we have seen real benefits from ensuring patients who have dementia are not separated from their families or carers.

“We see relatives and carers as members of our team. They are encouraged to participate in care, eat with their loved ones, stay overnight if they wish, and are there for the ward round to share and receive information.”

Among those who have recently taken advantage of John’s Campaign are the family of 85-year-old Frances Morton, from Wishaw.

Frances’s daughter, Marie Kennedy, said: “It was great being able to stay with mum. There was always a member of the family with her, night and day. We chatted with her and helped her to eat and to wash.

“We know mum’s routine, which stopped her getting upset, and there was someone with her for reassurance if she woke in the night and was anxious.

“It was a fantastic comfort to us as well as to mum,” added Marie, who’s from Wishaw.

The nomination for the Meaningful Activity Club was welcomed by Wishaw General’s senior nurse for older people, Janice Miles, who said: “The club offers exercise, reminiscence activities, arts and crafts, musical events and visits from specially-trained therapy pets.

“We also have an old-style shop to take patients with dementia on a trip down Memory Lane.

“The club was developed because we recognised that people with dementia in hospital were frequently becoming distressed because of unmet needs, specifically related to boredom and lack of activity. Staff grew to understand that meaningful activity could help the patients feel valued and recognised.”

The award-winners will be announced at a ceremony in Glasgow next month.