Wishaw General is the first hospital in Scotland to join an initiative to help patients with dementia.

The hospital has become part of John’s Campaign, which supports people with dementia by ensuring they are surrounded by familiar faces around the clock by letting their carers stay with them on the ward.

The initiative was introduced in ward 12 thanks to senior charge nurse Karen Wilson.

She said: “Within our ward, we are very relaxed about visiting hours as we appreciate the value that this brings – helping to reassure a person who is disoriented, encouraging the person to eat and drink, participating with activities and helping to reduce feelings of anxiety, loneliness, isolation and often depression.

“When I heard about John’s Campaign, I knew it was a simple but great idea that we wanted the ward to support. After all, we already do it really, and this is a terrific way to formalise the right for carers to be with the person.

“We are committed to always providing person-centred care. This can frequently be difficult when caring for a person with dementia or cognitive impairment, as they are often unable to show you what helps them and what may upset then at a time when they are already coping with a strange environment and lots of new faces.

“That’s why we value working together with carers and families. They know the person better than anyone else and are able to give valuable information about the person’s past, their likes and dislikes and what their normal routine is.”

Gillian Corbett, chief of nursing services at Wishaw General, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting John’s Campaign.

“If this proves to be a success in ward 12, and there is a demand from relatives and carers, it will be rolled out to other care of the elderly wards in the hospital.”