STAFF at four hospitals are to get specialist training so they can help dementia patients.

The training will take place at Fairfield and North Manchester general hospitals, Royal Oldham Hospital and Rochdale Infirmary, which are all run by Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust.

The trust has created a new post of dementia nurse consultant and it has been taken up by Janice McGrory, who will give the training.

Qualifying as a registered general nurse in 1986, Janice has worked in a number of different specialities and hospitals throughout the country, but most recently she was lead nurse for dementia and delirium at Salford Royal Hospital.

In her new role, she will work staff to ensure dementia patients get the help they need throughout their care and when they are discharged.

Janice said she was looking forward to her new role and added: "Improving dementia care often includes changing or challenging culture and beliefs but, by taking new approaches to caring for people with dementia, there are obvious benefits not only to the patient and carer, but for staff as well."

The trust's assistant director of safeguarding Dr Suzanne Smith said: "In order to deliver on our dementia strategy, we recognised the need for strong, authoritative and informed leadership with a track record in clinical excellence and innovation within the NHS. Janice ticks all of those boxes."