Hospital bosses in Bradford have defended their policies after a national audit found “significant improvement” is needed in the way care is delivered to patients with dementia.

The study found that while hospitals say they have policies in place, these are not always followed and simple steps are not taken that could lessen the distress to patients.

The National Audit of Dementia, which covers England and Wales, said staff do not always greet or talk to patients during care, explaining what they were doing or offering choice.

Recommendations in yesterday’s report include providing basic dementia training for all staff, with some ward staff receiving higher-level training, and a senior clinical lead for dementia in each hospital, with dementia champions in each department and at ward level.

A spokesman for Bradford Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital, said over the past year it had invested in improving wards, particularly for patients with dementia.

He said: “We have put in place a programme of work to address the specific clinical needs of patients with dementia and help improve the quality of life for them and their carers.

"In 2012 the Foundation Trust will continue to improve its dementia care by introducing further training about the condition to all our staff, not just doctors and nurses, who work on the wards which treat and care for these patients.”

Rob Dearden, director of nursing at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We employ a specialist nursing and consultant team for our elderly patients and they liaise with teams from other organisations, such as primary care, social care and the voluntary sector both locally and across the country, to ensure we are delivering compassionate care for these patients.”

Read more on this report in today's T&A