NHS Lothian’s pioneering Rapid Response Team is celebrating after they picked up a title in this month’s Scotland’s Dementia Awards.
The team, which provides an alternative to hospital admission for older people by providing mental health and support at home, was recognised in the national ceremony in Glasgow this week.
The Rapid response Team collected the Best Community Support Initiative Award.
The service is the first of its type in Scotland and has picked up its fourth award since starting in December 2016.
Karen Ritchie, Senior Charge Nurse of Rapid Response, said: “I’m so proud of my team and what we have achieved. It’s a testament to their hard work and passion for providing an alternative to hospital for people living with dementia and those who care for them.’
The team take pride in providing a flexible person-centred approach to care and assess each person’s needs individually to create a unique care plan in line with the persons own view of what recovery looks like for them.
The service is based on the Scottish Governments 2020 vision of health care (2011) and will help meet a corresponding demand for fewer hospital beds by the provision of a safe alternative to hospital admission.
Dementia is the biggest health and social care challenge faced by society today and there are around 90,000 people living with dementia in Scotland.
There is a projected increase in the number of people over 65 in Edinburgh by 2030 resulting in an increase in the number of people with dementia and older people with functional mental health issues.
Scotland’s Dementia Awards, a partnership between Alzheimer Scotland, NHS Education for Scotland and the Scottish Social Services Council, celebrates the inspirational achievements of those outstanding Individuals making a difference for people living with dementia and their families across health, social service and community settings.
Professor Alex McMahon, Nurse Director, NHS Lothian, said “We are all really proud of the achievements of the Rapid Response Team. They are a great team that do fantastic work and it’s rewarding to see their work being recognised at Scotland’s Dementia Awards.”
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