A GROUND-BREAKING programme to help trainee doctors, nurses and paramedics learn how to assist dementia patients has won a prestigious national award.

Time for Dementia pairs families affected by the condition with healthcare trainees in what is believed to be the first project of its kind in the world.

The programme came out on top in the improving outcomes through learning and development category at the Health Service Journal awards.

The initiative, launched two years ago, is run by Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Sussex Partnership NHS Trust, the University of Surrey and Surrey Borders NHS Trust.

It is also supported by the Alzheimer’s Society.

The scheme has involved more than 1,300 students spending regular time with around 600 families affected by dementia.

Students visit a family up to six times over two academic years, for up to two hours each time.

The idea is to improve knowledge, attitudes and empathy towards people with dementia and their carers.

The programme has proved so successful three further universities have become partners, including the University of Brighton.

Director of the centre for dementia studies at the medical school, Sube Banerjee, said: “We are delighted and proud Time for Dementia has been recognised with this award and that we are able to expand the programme.

“We want to help healthcare students understand what it is really like to live with a long-term health condition like dementia.

“Through this programme they learn about what it is to be old and ill in society, and how people adapt and manage living with serious, long-term illness over time.

“This helps build compassion and understanding.

“It also helps equip students for their future careers as health professionals and helps us provide better care.

“This is the most ambitious programme of its type anywhere in the world.

“It is already changing the way in which healthcare students of the future learn about dementia.”

More than 850,000 people live with dementia in the UK and 25 million have a friend or family member with the condition.

Sussex and the South East has the highest proportion of older people in the UK.

Across Sussex more than 25,000 people currently have dementia and this is set to rise to 30,000 over the next ten years.

For more details call 07713 779582 or email timefordementia@alzheimers.org.uk.

Lauren Merrison, Alzheimer’s Society Time for Dementia Programme Manager, said: “We’re over the moon to have been recognised at these awards. We’ve worked hard with the universities to help influence future health care professionals’ understanding of dementia and how it can affect people in a multitude of ways. There are more than 43,000 people living with dementia Surrey and Sussex and it’s imperative we learn from the experts in dementia – the people affected by the condition.”

Families interested in taking part should call Lauren Merrison at the Alzheimer’s Society on 07713 779582 or email timefordementia@alzheimers.org.uk.