THE Frederick Dental Practice in Greenock has trained 12 of its members of staff to become dementia friends.

The team has received specialist information from Alzheimer Scotland about dementia and the varying ways it can affect an individual. 

Matthew Stitt, associate dentist at Frederick's, said: “As part of our commitment to providing sector-leading care at community level, we have partnered with Alzheimer Scotland to ensure all of our patient-facing team members are ‘Dementia Friends’.

“From the moment an appointment is required, through to the dental care they receive, communication with the patient and everything in between – we have a range of considerations that we take in to account to ensure that patient is cared for appropriately.”  

Frederick Dental Practice is part of the Clyde Munro Group, Scotland’s leading dental group that provides NHS and private dental care for patients across the country.   

Fiona Wood, Chief Operations Officer, Clyde Munro said: “Across the Clyde Munro Group, we have over 1,000 people who have become Dementia Friends. It’s imperative to the protection of accessible oral healthcare that we are appropriately trained at every local practice to support our patients living with dementia - and their families - in accessing dental care. 

“We are incredibly proud of the partnership we have with Alzheimer Scotland and believe our role extends beyond the walls of our practices, we want to support people in their communities, at a local level, and being Dementia Friends allows us to do this.”