Plea from Duchess over dementia care

THE Duchess of Hamilton today called for specialist dementia nurses to be provided in all hospitals across Scotland.

In today's Evening News she speaks out about her husband's struggle with Alzheimer's disease and the battle she is spearheading for improved dementia care.

She tells how husband Angus, the 15th Duke of Hamilton, was "flattened" by the use of powerful drugs in hospital, which she suspects may have been the controversial antipsychotic haloperidol.

She is joining with Alzheimer Scotland to campaign for a bank of specialist nurses to help NHS staff cope with the needs of dementia patients on general wards without the use of overpowering drugs. There are currently only four such nurses in all Scotland – the charity would like one in every hospital.

The Duchess said: "We need more dementia care, especially in hospitals, because you can't look after an acute illness and cope with dementia as well. Nurses need more training in dementia care, but you also need specialists."

Chief executive of Alzheimer Scotland, Henry Simmons, said: "We would like to thank the Duchess of Hamilton for her support. All money raised by Lady Hamilton will go towards our Dementia Nurse programme."