Published on: 3 November 2025
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT) has launched a new Admiral Nurse service in collaboration with Dementia UK, the specialist dementia nursing charity, to support families affected by dementia living in Sunderland.
The Admiral Nurse service will ensure people with dementia and their families are supported by a specialist dementia nurse from the point of hospital admission through to discharge.
Alongside providing practical advice and support to people with dementia, the service will work closely with health and social care professionals at the hospital - including the specialist delirium and dementia outreach service - to improve the care that people with dementia receive.
Taking on the role of Admiral Nurse at STSFT is Andrea Lawson, who will support patients, families and carers throughout their hospital stay.
Andrea has spent over 30 years, mostly in the Acute Elderly Care working in various roles. In her previous role as Elder Life Specialist Practitioner, she was responsible for assessing, treating and referring patients with cognitive issues onto specialist Mental Health services.
This included working closely with health and social care professionals and cognitively frail patients and their families to ensure a high level of care.
Andrea Lawson, Admiral Nurse at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, shared:
“As a passionate and dedicated registered nurse, I’ve embraced this new role as an opportunity to grow and make a meaningful difference. I bring with me a real passion for nursing older adults and look forward to continuing to provide the highest level of nursing care and service to people with dementia.
“I’m deeply committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of every person with dementia, offering compassionate care and unwavering support to both individuals and their families as they navigate uncertainty following a diagnosis.”
Admiral Nurses are specialist dementia nurses who are continually supported and developed by Dementia UK, to provide life-changing advice and support to anyone affected by dementia, whenever it’s needed.
They work on the free national Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline, in face-to-face and virtual clinics, and in the community, in GP practices, hospitals, and care homes.
Dr Hilda Hayo, Chief Admiral Nurse and Chief Executive at Dementia UK, said:
“The last few years have placed increasing pressure on local services that support families with dementia. This has left many families struggling and unable to cope with no one to turn to for support. Admiral Nurses are there when people need them most, providing health advice, offering compassionate emotional and psychological support, and helping families plan for the future.
“We are pleased to welcome Andrea Lawson to the Admiral Nurse team. With her expertise, we will be able to reach more families than ever with this critical support”
One in two of us will be affected by dementia in our lifetime - either by caring for someone with the condition, developing it ourselves, or both. It’s a huge and growing health crisis and is the leading cause of death in the UK.
It’s a huge and growing health crisis and is the leading cause of death in the UK.
