Patient Safety Awards 2016: Dementia Care

Winner: Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trust

The evidence is clear: keeping older people mobile, free from pain, hydrated, well slept and free from infection while they are in hospital reduces the risk of them developing delirium in hospital. They recover better and are more likely to return home.

The initial setup cost the trust nothing – although funds have been allocated to roll it out to more clinical areas

The challenge is how to deliver this – and the winner came up with a novel solution: bring in A-level students as volunteers to promote drinking, eating, mobility and social engagement. It’s been a huge success.

Serious harm falls have been zero for two years now and complaints have dropped from more than three a month to zero or one. Patients with fractured neck of femur are more likely to return home.

Staff, patients and volunteers alike all enjoy working together. The initial setup cost the trust nothing – although funds have been allocated to roll it out to more clinical areas.

The judges said: “This is great work and should be rolled out nationally.”

Highly commended: Cumbria Partnership Foundation Trust