THE Wilson Practice at Alton Health Centre has been officially recognised as “dementia-friendly”.

Following a review of its services, approach and surgery environment, the surgery has been confirmed as meeting the requirements of the Wessex Academic Health Science Network (WAHSN) dementia-friendly checklist. This view is endorsed by patients and carers who use the practice regularly.

Dr Sally Louden, the practice’s lead GP for dementia care, she has worked, over many years, with patients with dementia and their carers to find out how its team can better support them, not just with their clinical needs, but in helping them make best use of the surgery and services.

The GPs, nurses and admin teams have had training to understand how people with dementia see the world and to address assumptions made about this progressive condition. Staff are now confident in helping to support people with dementia and their carers and, as well as ensuring their encounter with the practice is as stress-free as possible, they also know where to signpost them for other services.

The dementia-friendly surgery checklist is based on the work of Dr Nicola Decker, a GP at Oakley and Overton Surgery, and now also chair of North Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group.

The senior project manager for dementia quality improvement at Wilson, Katherine Barbour, visited the Wilson Practice in December and was delighted to find that it was already meeting the majority of the standards highlighted in the WAHSN checklist.noon.

She said: “The Wilson Practice has included the views of people with dementia and their carers in the work they have done and are linking with the community to provide person-centred care – this is the heart of this project. Dr Louden is to be commended for her leadership of this work but it is a team effort and the whole practice supports this.”

Ms Barbour shared the cutting of a special celebration cake with Dr Louden.