Melissa Rowlands, Dementia Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) at St. John's Hospital, NHS Lothian, developed the role of the ANP in dementia care to enhance patient care support the diagnosis, designing a service which seeks to prevent admission and reduce readmission to hospital for people with dementia in care homes. By developing nurse led clinics, Melissa supports West Lothian’s contribution to national HEAT targets by reducing waiting times for diagnosis. She adopts a flexible approach to ensure that the service works across older people’s health services as well as supporting other agencies.
Within a year of establishing the service, waiting times had halved, allowing the post diagnostic support teams to engage more quickly with patients. Melissa’s approach is already being shared across Scotland and she is now supporting ANPs in other areas to implement her initiative.
Applauding Melissa for innovation and commitment, Colin Poolman, RCN Scotland Director said: “Mental health nurses are key to supporting patients and clients to live as independent and fulfilling lives as they can. Melissa has succeeded in raising the standards of dementia care for her patients and clients. Her nurse led clinics show that, with a passionate nurse at the helm, great things can be achieved”.
Congratulations to runner up, Natalie McLelland, Link Nurse Therapist in the Tier 4 Complex Trauma Pathway CAMHS in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, and Linda Doonan, Nurse Team Leader of the Primary Care Alcohol Nurse Outreach Service (PCANOS), Glasgow Alcohol & Drug Recovery Service, who was highly commended.
Thanks to our sponsors of this award, NHS Forth Valley. With their support, we were able to go all out and truly celebrate all of our finalists and their contribution to the health and care of the people of Scotland.
