Sherborne’s GPs make the town the first to become completely Dementia Friendly

Sherborne is Dementia Friendly, and that’s official!

 Now all three GP surgeries in Sherborne have gained Dementia Friendly status, Sherborne has become the first town in Dorset to not only have a Dementia Action Alliance, but also have all their medical practices accredited with iSPACE – the dementia friendly surgeries programme.

This is a fantastic achievement and a reflection of the attitudes of the community in the district towards giving support to people living with dementia and their carers.

Working alongside Joanna Bazalgette from Wessex Academic Health Science Network (AHSN), practice managers from Apples Medical Practice, Newland Medical Centre and Bute House Surgery have been making small but significant changes to their practices which will help make sure the needs of people with dementia will be served to the highest possible standards when using their services.  This has involved the training of almost all the staff working for those practices, including GP’s, nursing staff, admin and reception staff.

Philippa Cannings, practice manager at Apples Medical Practice, said: “We have been working hard to understand the needs of people living with dementia.  Staff undertook training to understand and support patients and their carers too.

“The Practice has nominated two Dementia Champions, Ruth King and Tracy King, who will keep us all focussed on the work we are doing and ensure that that the service received by patients is of a high standard.  New signs are now displayed in the waiting room which are easy and clear for patients.  Our staff have also held a Cake sale to raise funds for Dementia UK.  We believe this work will give us a good basis on which to give ongoing support to people living with dementia in our community.”

The Dementia Action Alliance in Sherborne was founded over a year ago and is also looking at ways in which it can support people in the district to live the best possible quality of life after a diagnosis of dementia.  Along with the accreditation of the three surgeries, Sherborne is proving itself to be a welcoming and compassionate community in which to live.

You can find out more about iSPACE, including resources on how to make your surgery dementia friendly, here.

In picture (left to right): Sara Holder, Ruth King, Philippa Cannings, Dr Sally Dangerfield, Dr Charlie Middle, Claire Pounde, Victoria Morris.