New Admiral Nurse roles provide specialist support for patients living with dementia
Two specialist dementia nurses who will support patients, their families and carers have been appointed at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Michaela Chand and Georgia Kipling have taken up roles as Admiral Nurses and will lead the Transitions of Care service for dementia patients in hospital, ensuring the best possible care and support is in place for when they leave hospital.
Admiral Nurses are continually supported and developed by Dementia UK to provide specialist care and support for dementia patients and those close to them.
Michaela said: “I am extremely proud to be one of the first Admiral Nurses employed at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. As a newly qualified nurse I was given my first link nurse role focussing on our patients with dementia, and since then I have always had a passion for improving the hospital experience for those patients. I am hugely excited to have an opportunity in this important role.”
Georgia said the experience of seeing a family member living with dementia had encouraged her to go for the role.
She said: “My grandad lived with dementia for several years prior to his passing, and the experience of seeing his journey has given me a passion to make a difference to the lives of people in Sheffield living with dementia.”
The Admiral Nurses will provide specialist support from the point of referral to hospital and through a post-discharge period of up to six weeks. They will work with patients, family members, carers and other healthcare professionals to ensure the correct discharge destination is in place, provide health advice and emotional and psychological support, and work proactively with nursing and residential homes and community services to ensure the smoothest possible transition.
This should help to ensure timely discharge, support a ‘home-first’ approach, reduce the risk of breakdown or crisis and improve the quality of life for the patient and their family.
Esme Blyth, Nurse Director Lead for Dementia at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, said: “We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Dementia UK to introduce our first Admiral Nurse role here at the Trust.
“At any one time one in four hospital beds are occupied by people living with dementia, and the Admiral Nurse role will increase the support for them, their families and those caring for them.
“Michaela and Georgia are two very passionate, dedicated and experienced nurses and we look forward to seeing the impact they will make.”
Pic: Admiral Nurses Georgia Kipling (left) and Michaela Chand
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