NATIONAL accolades have been awarded to the care trust that runs the Centre for Mental Health at Airedale Hospital.

Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust was part of a team that won the Dementia Quality Improvement Award.

The honour is in recognition of a pioneering project – in conjunction with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust – that supports the diagnosis of dementia.

The initiative focuses on the use of special so-called PET scans for difficult-to-diagnose patients.

Dr Gregor Russell, a consultant psychiatrist with the care trust, said: "Sometimes, after undertaking routine assessments in clinic and carrying out MRI or CT scans, we are still unclear if a person has dementia.

"By having access to a PET scan, we have more information to confidently diagnose if a person has dementia or not, and it also helps distinguish between different types of the condition."

Also honoured was Carla Smith, the trust's clinical lead for district nursing. She has been given the prestigious Queen's Nurse title.

The award is for "a commitment to high standards of patient care, learning and leadership".

"It's really exciting and a great honour," she said.

"I hope the award helps to promote and celebrate the good work that is carried out by district nurses across Bradford and Airedale."

And two members of the trust's learning disability team – Noel Brown and Andrew Birkenshaw – have reached the finals of the National Learning Disability and Autism Awards.