TWO dementia care leaders at Airedale Hospital who have played a major role in helping sufferers of the condition have been shortlisted for coveted national accolades.

Elaine Andrews and Eileen Proud are both finalists in the prestigious National Dementia Care Awards.

Sweeping improvements have been carried out at the Steeton hospital to help people with the condition.

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust successfully bid for half a million pounds from the Department of Health to launch a Here to Care project, a rolling refurbishment programme to make four wards more dementia friendly.

The scheme involved representatives from the voluntary sector, patients, carers and members of the trust's environment sub group.

They have also advised on the improvement of other wards outside the remit of the project and the incorporation of dementia-friendly measures into schemes such as the new Emergency Department, which will feature a special Butterfly Room.

The Friends of Airedale has helped fund improvements including colour co-ordinated bays and the use of bright colours around new toilets, showers and bathrooms to help patients easily find their way back to their bed areas and prevent disorientation.

Mrs Andrews, the trust's assistant director of patient safety, said success in the awards scheme – in which she is shortlisted in the inspirational leader category – was recognition for all the work that had been carried out.

She added: "Leading the team which transformed the environment for our patients with dementia was a privilege for me. Their dedication and commitment was impressive – constantly thinking of new ideas and having fun on the way.

"My vision was for us to go 'further and faster' within Airedale NHS Foundation Trust to make a real difference for the care and management of our dementia patients.

"We set about making improvements in a very structured way and I think the judges were impressed by how much we have achieved."

Mrs Proud, 75, chairman of the Friends of Airedale, has been shortlisted in the lifetime achievement section.

"I am delighted to have been shortlisted," she said. "I really believe in what I do and so that helps me to inspire enthusiasm in others and get them on board.

"Most of our refurbishment work has been about providing extras touches that are really helpful for someone with dementia. For example, black and white clocks which are clearly visible and show the date as well as the time. Also, patients now have a choice of photo to appear behind their bed on our dementia-friendly wards which follows them if they are moved to another bed or ward."

Award winners will be announced at a ceremony in Brighton on Tuesday.

A talk about dementia is being held in the education centre lecture theatre at Airedale Hospital on Tuesday, from 10.30am to 11.45am.

E-mail fiona.page@anhst.nhs.uk for further information and to reserve a place.