Nurses with dementia should be supported to work, union decides

The Royal College of Nurses (RCN) has advised that nurses who have dementia should be supported to continue their work for as long as they are able, following a vote at its annual Congress in Liverpool.

A dementia nurse from London, Jo James, who proposed the idea said reasonable adjustments could be made to the job for colleagues with dementia.

The controversial plan prompted some members to argue the move could put patients at risk. However, James suggested developing an RCN strategy for supporting colleagues with the condition, so they could carry out their work effectively.

James told the conference: "A dementia diagnosis is likely to signal the end of a nurse's professional life. In a single moment they will go from nurse to patient, regardless of the severity of their dementia or how it's affecting them.

"We have robust laws in place against discrimination - but dementia is often seen as the exception to the rule and stigmatised. "I think we need an RCN strategy on this because it's difficult to manage in the workplace.

"We don't want people to hide their diagnosis from their managers because they're frightened they will lose their livelihood. We need people with dementia to be honest and open about what's happening.”

Janet Davies,head of the RCN, said: "The chances are there will be workers who are developing dementia in every setting in the UK, in healthcare and beyond. Just because someone has a mental or physical impairment, it doesn't mean they're dangerous.

"The requirement for reasonable adjustments means you assess that person so they're not putting anyone in danger. If they didn't have the capacity, they wouldn't be making critical decisions or calculations."