Bradford actor Duncan Preston will be the star guest at this Friday’s unveiling of a landmark project which sees two of the wards at the Bradford Royal Infirmary transformed into unique, healing environments for patients with dementia.

Duncan, who most recently starred as Doug Potts in ITV’s Emmerdale and is well-known for his roles in the TV sitcoms, Dinnerladies, Surgical Spirit and Acorn Antiques, is also active patron of Bradford’s Alzheimer's Society.

Ward 23 (trauma orthopaedics) and Ward 29 (elderly care) have been transformed after the Foundation Trust was chosen to be one of 12 hospitals across the country to participate in the King’s Fund’s Enhancing the Healing Environment scheme. The programme which has been sponsored by the Department of Health encourages and enables nurse-led teams to work in partnership with the estates department and patients to improve the environment in which they deliver care.

Head of Nursing for medicine and project lead on the King’s Fund Enhancing the Healing Environment initiative, Dawn Parkes, said:  “We’re delighted that Duncan will be here to represent the Bradford branch of the Alzheimer’s Society and to see the transformation that has taken place on wards 23 and 29 thanks to the introduction of art, film, colour and touch which aims to orientate, reassure and help dementia patients adapt to their new surroundings.

“The Alzheimer’s Society provides invaluable help and support to patients and their carers throughout the district and their input into this project was vital and so important.

“We hope that the patients, their carers and the staff of Bradford Teaching Hospitals will reap the benefit of these major refurbishments for many years to come.”

Duncan will launch the scheme on Friday morning before touring the wards with dignitaries from The King’s Fund, local charities and Foundation Trust executives.

A passionate supporter of the Alzheimer Society, Duncan has been an active patron of the charity’s Bradford services for a number of years and recently launched the Society's flagship fundraiser, Memory Walks, in the Yorkshire area.