Lorraine is a dual qualified nurse who has worked passionately in the care of older people with and without the condition of dementia for the past 34 years. Over the years she has obtained several qualifications in both gerontology and dementia care including several post graduate qualifications.
Her previous roles include working in various older person settings both in the hospital and community and she is proud to have been a pioneer in becoming the first Mental health Dementia Nurse Specialist in the UK to have been employed by an acute hospital trust in Manchester from 2001 – 2010. Here she was involved in transforming services for people with dementia across the Trust whilst also devising and implementing training programmes to enhance the care for people with dementia. In addition to this role she liaised clinically with Professor Alistair Burns in his Liaison Consultant Role at the hospital.
Lorraine has also worked as one of three Admiral Nurses’ working within the City of Manchester. In this role she supported carers of people with dementia whilst also delivering alongside other health care professionals Post Diagnostic support/education groups to people with dementia and their carers. Within her role as Admiral Nurse she was also fundamental in developing and running a health promotion activity dementia café and a social dementia group in a public house to encourage social inclusion and engagement for men in particular affected by dementia. Lorraine later became a manager in developing a later life liaison service in a Manchester hospital but left this to take up her current role working as the first Macmillan Dementia Nurse Consultant. She works at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust and in Central Manchester alongside people with dementia and their carers affected by cancer and dementia. This role is a joint partnership role between The Christie hospital, Macmillan and Central Manchester Foundation Trust and looks at those patients with complex care needs particularly around issues regarding palliative care.
Lorraine has written several publications relating to dementia in the acute setting and was involved in the National DOH Project “Lets Respect” looking at improving the mental health needs of older care people in an acute setting. She also recently appeared on national television and radio after winning the prestigious title of Nurse of the Year for her work over the years in working with older people and dementia.
