A HOSPITAL which has led the way in dementia care is now helping ease the trauma of surgery for elderly patients.

Relatives and carers will be able to go into the operating theatre with loved ones undergoing surgery at Wishaw General in Lanarkshire.

They will be permitted to stay there until the patient has had their anaesthetic and fallen asleep.

A new ‘Theatre Buddy’ trolley has also been introduced to help calm patients which includes iPods with songs from their favourite era and a theatre purse if they would like to take small precious objects, like jewellery, with them into the theatre.

Wishaw General was the first Scottish hospital to sign up for John's Campaign, which allows relatives to stay with patients on wards round-the-clock.

The Evening Times has launched a campaign to help shine a light on dementia, which is predicted to affect one in three people in the next few decades.

Maureen Dobbin, Senior Nurse for Surgical Critical Care and Theatres, said: “We feel passionately about doing more for our patients with dementia.

“Going for surgery can be scary for any patient and a worrying time for their loved ones. When the person who is having the surgery also has dementia this can be even more traumatic.

“Now, at whatever stage in their journey through our hospital, patients with dementia do not have to feel confused, upset or alone.”

Yvonne Jeffery, from Netherton, was one of the first relatives to become a ‘Theatre Buddy’ after her mum, Mary Devanney, needed surgery on a fractured hip.

Mary, 88, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s eight years ago.

Yvonne said: “I was so glad I could be there for my mum thanks to this wonderful initiative. My experience of being a theatre buddy was excellent and I would recommend this to anyone to help make the journey easier for their loved one."