THE Welsh Ambulance Service has made it to the final of this year’s Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friendly Awards.

The Trust has been shortlisted as one of three finalists in the Dementia Friendly Organisation of the Year, Health and Social Care category.

The nomination was made in recognition of work carried out in the Swansea area in partnership with Dementia Friendly Communities to help people living with the condition.

The Trust, with support from Swansea Lions Club and Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, made three pledges to help the cause, one of which was to raise awareness amongst Swansea locality staff by delivering Dementia Friends Awareness sessions.

A patient referral pathway has also been piloted, whereby crews who suspect a patient has dementia but is undiagnosed can refer that patient to the health board’s Acute Clinical Response Service for further assessment.

Swansea-based Clinical Team Leader Leigh Keen, who has been leading on the work, said: “It’s absolutely fantastic that our hard work has been recognised.

“It’s something that we’ve been working on for the last two years and it’s really nice to see awareness of dementia being raised in the Swansea area amongst staff, who have shown a real enthusiasm to attend the Dementia Friends sessions.

“I know eight patients have been referred as part of the pathway, which not might sound like a lot, but the difference it could make to each individual patient is massive.”

This year's finalists have been selected by people with dementia and their carers, as well as a judging panels of industry experts.

The Trust will find out whether it has won the award at a ceremony at Church House in London on November 30.