“Admiral Nurse” for those living with dementia in Orkney is a first for Scotland

The care and support provided for those living with dementia and their families in Orkney has taken a significant step forward with the launch of a new Admiral Nurse service for the first time in Scotland.

In collaboration with Orkney Health & Care (OHAC) and Dementia UK, Age Scotland Orkney (ASO) are looking to recruit a registered specialist dementia nurse, known as an Admiral Nurse.

Dementia UK is the specialist dementia nursing charity that is there for the whole family. Their nurses, known as Admiral Nurses, provide free, specialist advice, support and understanding to anyone affected by dementia, whenever it’s needed. With the support of an Admiral Nurse and Dementia UK - whether it’s via their Helpline (0800 888 6678), through the Clinics service, or in the community - families they support know they’re not alone.

In the groundbreaking move north of the border, Dementia UK has made the commitment alongside OHAC to each provide 50% funding costs for the Admiral Nurse with ASO providing the management support for two years.

This model of care has been a long-held aspiration of the Chief Executive of ASO, Gillian Skuse, who set the wheels in motion for this unique partnership.

She is delighted and says that "Admiral Nurses are to those living with dementia and their families what Macmillan Nurses are to those with cancer”.

Gillian continued: “This is another example of partnership working at its absolute best and I cannot thank my colleagues at Orkney Health and Care and Dementia UK enough for helping to make this happen.

“Having the exemplar Orkney Local Dementia Strategy – which has been shared across the country as a shining example – we knew what those diagnosed and living with dementia wanted most and that was to be able to be supported and cared for in a less clinical way and well enough to be able to stay at home for as long as possible.

“The appointment of an Admiral Nurse, alongside a GP with a specialist interest in dementia in Orkney, means that we can make this a reality for those with dementia.

“There is also a new national Dementia Strategy and this fits in with that.”

The new service will mean additional GP and nurse clinics being run from Age Scotland Orkney’s Victoria Street premises in Kirkwall – further taking care and support back into the community – again something people say they want.

An open referral system will mean anyone with concerns can simply call this multi-agency team at Age Scotland Orkney for signposting in the most appropriate way  and, of course, there’s always the option to contact a GP from the outset.

Gillian said: “The most important thing is for the diagnosis to be made and once a referral is made to ourselves, the team here alongside the Admiral Nurse will come up with a plan that best suits each individual person and family.

“People can live for many years with dementia, and we need to make every one of them count for all the right reasons.”

Admiral Nurses help people living with dementia stay independent for longer – and support the people caring for them so that they will have the strength to cope with the bad days, and the energy to enjoy the good days.

Gillian added: “The Admiral Nurse will be employed by Age Scotland Orkney and based with us in Kirkwall and travel across Orkney. They will receive ongoing support from Dementia UK and become part of the wider network of Admiral Nurses with further specialist training opportunities.”

OHAC Chief Officer Stephen Brown said they recognised the importance of the Admiral Nursing service and were keen to give it their support.

“At the heart of the Local Dementia Strategy was the feedback from carers and people living with dementia – and this has allowed those involved to shape what was needed moving forward.

“We have been working closely with Gillian at ASO and Dementia UK to make this aspiration a reality, which will ensure people and their families living with dementia in Orkney get the best care and support we can offer.

“Orkney is once again demonstrating innovative practice and a community solution through partnership working. We are delighted to support this Admiral Nursing service.”

In 2020, the Orkney Dementia Strategy 2020-2025 reported that in Orkney there were 474 people estimated to be living with dementia. This is projected to almost double by 2041.

The five-year strategy provides a framework for improvement in support and services for people with a diagnosis of dementia and those who provide unpaid support for them throughout communities in Orkney.

The strategy includes a foreword statement from people living with dementia and carers, themselves, which states: “A diagnosis of dementia can be very hard to accept and has an impact, not just on the person living with dementia but on those closest to them. Acceptance can be difficult, and individuals need to be supported in this area.

“It is our hope that the Orkney Dementia Strategy will help to support people living with dementia, their loved ones and carers, and that the support provided will be truly person-centred. Resources need to be offered which address the big issues such as innovative solutions to respite, care home provision and services that help people live independently in their own homes for as long as possible.

“We support a strategy that is realistic, practical and implemented in a timely manner, appropriate to our local context. It is crucial that people with appropriate skills are recruited to support those living with dementia and that future needs are planned for.”

Gillian concluded: “We hope those living with dementia and their families in Orkney can find reassurance in this latest step that we have listened and have the same end goals and aims as they do.”

To find out more about the role of an Admiral Nurse, candidates are encouraged to complete Dementia UK’s free online: Pre Admiral Nurse eLearning course.

For more information and to discuss the role, please contact: Gillian Skuse, CEO, Age Scotland Orkney email gillian.skuse@agescotlandorkney.org.uk or telephone 01856 872438.

The closing date is 23 June 2023.

Read more information about Admiral Nurses here.

In addition to the services that are provided locally, if you need advice or support on living with dementia, contact Dementia UK’s Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline on 0800 888 6678 or email helpline@dementiauk.org. The Helpline is staffed by experienced Admiral Nurses. 

 You can also book a free video or phone appointment to get expert dementia support from an Admiral Nurse. Find out more at dementiauk.org/book-an-appointment.  

 For more information visit www.dementiauk.org, follow Dementia UK on Twitter: @DementiaUK, and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DementiaUK