Let nurses who have dementia carry on working, says union

NURSES with dementia should be allowed to continue treating patients, their union says.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) claims the move would set an example to society that dementia sufferers should not be discriminated against.

But critics say there is a clear risk to patient safety if nurses with the illness administer the wrong drugs or become confused and aggressive.

At its congress in Liverpool yesterday the union voted to develop a strategy to ‘support’ nurses with dementia to continue nursing. They could be moved into roles involving less technical tasks such as helping train colleagues to provide better dementia care.

Joanna James, of the RCN’s Older People’s Forum, who proposed the motion, said: ‘In nursing, dementia is likely to signal the end of someone’s professional life. I believe we should see dementia as a special case. Few employers would consider that a person with dementia could be a productive member of their team. We should be embracing nurses with dementia and making it possible for them to continue delivering excellent patient care in spite of their disability.’

Celia Manson, of the RCN’s West Kent and Medway branch, said: ‘This is an area where we could and should take the lead so let’s grab it now.’

But Mary Codling, from the union’s South East branch said: ‘You cannot generalise with dementia. What affects one person at one point at their life will be very different from someone else.’

Referring to her father, who had dementia, she said: ‘To the outside world he carried on with his day to day life, but he was driving the wrong way down oneway streets.’

Shirley Ali, from the Inner South East London branch, said: ‘I’m a senior anaesthetic practitioner, we administer drugs to the minuscule microgram. If I have dementia, how am I ensuring patient safety?’

Joyce Robins, of campaign group Patient Concern, said: ‘This motion is frightening and quite extraordinary. I would not want someone with dementia treating me. I would be worried they may give me the wrong medication or forget to perform a lifesaving procedure. They could kill someone.’

Janet Davies, chief executive of the RCN, said she was ‘very pleased’ at the outcome of the vote but added that patient safety must be ensured. ‘Just because people have dementia doesn’t mean they can’t have a really useful role supporting patients,’ she added.

Rob Burley, director of policy at Alzheimer’s Society, said: ‘People with dementia can still make a meaningful contribution with the right support.’