Highland Dementia Nurse Wins Churchill Fellowship
Ruth Mantle is the 5000th person to win the prestigious prize.
An NHS Highland dementia nurse has become the 5000th person to win a Churchill Fellowship.
Ruth Mantle, who works in Inverness, beat 1,000 other applicants for the prize.
The award means she will travel to the United States and Australia to learn new ways of dealing with the disease.
Set up 50 years ago as a tribute to Sir Winston Churchill, the fellowships are awarded to people go overseas and bring back knowledge for the benefit of others.
“It is a fantastic honour,” said Ruth, who lives in Avoch on the Black Isle.
“I was naturally delighted to be awarded a fellowship but to be told that mine was something of a landmark in the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust’s history makes it extra special.”
She will use the £7,500 fellowship to travel to the United States and Australia to explore innovative ways for staff to connect with dementia patients.
She explained: “We in Highland have been doing some great work in this field but I know there is much to be learned from the experience of health, social care and wider community organisations in other parts of the world.
“I am aware of some fantastic work both in the States and Down Under which is helping provide creative ways to enhance the relationships between staff and people with dementia, and would love to bring some of that knowledge back to the UK.”
Ruth added: “Dementia has been identified as a national priority for Scotland and is a growing challenge not just for health and social care providers but for communities as a whole.
"And the knowledge gained from this fellowship will help enhance the work already taking place in the Highlands, Islands and Argyll & Bute to support people to live well with dementia."
Mother-of-two Ruth, a former community psychiatric nurse for older adults, was awarded honour after being shortlisted for interview in London from over 1000 applicants.
She plans to explore opportunities to reconnect with people with dementia through creative arts, music, the physical and social environment and the use of mindfulness.
She will also be presenting at the International conference for Alzheimer Disease International in Perth, which is the worldwide federation of Alzheimers associations.