Gloucestershire Hospitals invests in first Admiral Nurse to support patients and families affected by dementia
Gloucestershire Hospitals has appointed its first ever Admiral Nurse to help coordinate care and provide expert guidance for dementia patients, their carers and families.
Asma Pandor has taken up the new Admiral Nurse position, which is a joint role between Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Dementia UK. The latter is the only UK charity dedicated to supporting families affected by dementia through dementia specialist Admiral Nurses.
When things get challenging or difficult for people with dementia and their families, Admiral Nurses work alongside them, giving the compassionate one-to-one support, expert guidance and practical solutions that can be difficult to find elsewhere. They are a lifeline, helping families to live more positively with dementia in the present, and to face the challenges of tomorrow with more confidence and less fear.
Traditionally Admiral Nurses are based in the community, but Asma will be based across Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General hospitals giving much needed specialist care to inpatients.
Asma, who was previously a Ward Sister on Care of the Elderly wards said: “I am over the moon to have been appointed as the Admiral Nurse for our Trust. I will be available for all families and carers affected by dementia in both of our hospitals and for all staff who require any support and guidance in caring for people with dementia during their hospital stay.”
The Trust is committed to providing excellent care for patients living with dementia and already has a series of dementia champions and dedicated clinicians to address this growing area of need. This new role forms part of the Trust’s dementia improvement plan and will bolster existing support to ensure patients can access the right care when they need it and provide new innovative practice. In addition, Dementia UK will provide ongoing support to ensure that Asma continues to develop her skills and keeps up-to-date with the latest nursing practice.
Carole Webster, Deputy Chief Nurse at Gloucestershire Hospitals said: “This is superb news for inpatients and their loved ones to have a lead for dementia who will coordinate the care across our two hospitals and Dementia UK have been incredibly supportive. Asma will bring immense experience, leadership and clinical expertise with her. We’re really excited about the opportunities this post will bring.”
Emily Oliver, Consultant Admiral Nurse, Dementia UK said: “In pressured health and social care systems, people with dementia and their families can often experience ongoing challenges. In the case of hospitals, this can result in poorer outcomes such as delayed discharge, increased carer stress, and often a deterioration in the person with dementia’s condition. This is why it’s vital to have dementia specialist Admiral Nurses like Asma to be an advocate for families and support them during their admission. It’s a privilege to have Asma join the growing Admiral Nurse community.”