Western Trust Memory Service recognised for innovation at Dementia Awards
The Western Trust Memory Service is celebrating after being announced winners in the first ever University of Stirling International Dementia Awards, recently held in Birmingham.
The Memory Service won the Innovation Team Award which recognizes a team who has demonstrated exceptionally high quality of care to dementia patients and their families.
Commenting on the winners of the Innovation Team Award, Professor June Andrews, Director of Dementia Services Development Centre at the University of Sterling said: “The Western Trust’s Memory service, aims to detect and assess dementia at the earliest possible stage, make treatment recommendations and provide information and support to patients and care givers. This Team are committed to the principle of involving people with dementia and carers in the design, delivery and evaluation of its services.
She added: “This award is a great way to celebrate what is best in dementia care. The Western Trust’s Memory Service Team are really making a difference for individuals with dementia, families and communities.”
The Western Trust’s Memory Team Alan Corry-Finn, Western Trust Director of Primary Care and Older Peoples Services said: “In the Western Trust we are determined to see the continued improvement of patient care and experience and I am absolutely thrilled that the Trust’s Memory Service has been recognised internationally for their work in improving the lives of patients with dementia and their families. The Western Trust is ranked fifth out of 178 health authorities across the UK for dementia diagnosis.
“This award demonstrates that the Western Trust under the strong leadership of Geraldine Brown, Assistant Director of Secondary Care, who was also a finalist in the International Dementia Leader of the year, has been leading the way in Northern Ireland on early diagnosis and improving dementia services.”
The awards were presented by Baroness Joan Bakewell, as part of the International Dementia Conference in Birmingham.
In other news, social care workers at the Western Trust have also been recognised for their outstanding contributions when they held their social care awards recently.
Those recognised included:
- Laura Ritchie – Primary Care & Older People’s Services
- Margaret McDaid – Physical & Learning Disability Services
- Dominic McCrory – Residential Services
- Mark Hunter – Mental Health Services
- Tara Jackson – Childrens Services
Speaking at the awards event in Omagh, Kieran Downey Executive Director of Social Work congratulated all those who had been nominated for the awards. He said that they are all: “Ordinary People doing extraordinary things”.
