Department of Health
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has today published the dementia implementation plan which will empower people with dementia and their family through improved care and transparency.
As part of the governments aim of building a higher-quality NHS for patients, with safer care throughout the week, the dementia implementation plan will make sure:
- for the first time, people with dementia and their families will benefit from greater transparency and will be able to compare the quality of dementia care in their local area
- the Care Quality Commission will include standards of dementia care in their inspections to make sure services are safer for people with dementia 7 days a week
- every person with dementia will receive a personalised care plan
As part of plans to raise awareness of health concerns, a new pilot scheme will extend NHS Health Checks. For the first time, NHS Health Checks will include awareness raising, education and discussion of risk reduction for dementia for people aged 40 or older. This is currently only available for over 65s.
Alzheimers Society research shows that 92% per cent of people think hospitals are frightening for the person with dementia.
The rollout of 7 day services will benefit dementia patients as it will help make sure they dont stay in hospital longer than necessary. Currently, consultant hospital ward rounds vary across the week and around the country. Under new plans:
- all patients in high dependency care will be seen and reviewed by a consultant twice a day, every day of the week by 2020
- if clinically appropriate, all patients, including those with dementia, will be reviewed by a consultant ward round once a day, every day of the week by 2020.
Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt, said:
A dementia diagnosis can bring fear and heartache, but I want Britain to be the best place in the world to live well with dementia. Last Parliament we made massive strides on diagnosis rates and research the global race is now on to find a cure for dementia and I want the UK to win it.
This Parliament I want us to make big progress on the quality of care and treatment. Hospitals can be frightening and confusing places for people with dementia, so our new plan will guarantee them safer 7 day hospital care, as well as tackling unacceptable variations in quality across England through transparent Ofsted style ratings.
The dementia implementation plan builds on national success including raising dementia diagnosis rates to their highest levels, doubling dementia research funding and getting over 1 million people to become dementia friends.
The government has invested 150m to develop a national Dementia Research Institute to drive forward new treatments and help fulfil our goal to find a cure by 2025. This will be supported by our new aim for 10 per cent of all people diagnosed with dementia to take part in research.
We applaud the Governments firm commitment to make the UK the most dementia friendly place in the world. We look forward to leading the continued transformation of society and investment in research so that, by 2020, people with dementia get the support they need every day of the year whether that be at home, in residential care, hospital or in the wider community.
Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive of Alzheimers Society
Hilary Evans, Chief Executive of Alzheimers Research UK, said:
Since the first Prime Ministers Dementia Challenge was launched weve seen real progress in the fight against this devastating condition, and the beginnings of a social movement to rally people behind that fight. There is still much work to do, and Alzheimers Research UK welcomes this plan which signals a strong commitment to build on the achievements of recent years. We look forward to working with the Government to deliver action on research and help accelerate the development of much-needed new treatments, preventions and improvements in diagnosis.
The UK is leading the way in the fight against dementia, and this blueprint once again shows real leadership from the UK Government in its efforts to tackle the condition. This plan lays out a clear direction for driving forward improved care, new treatments and greater awareness, and it will be important to link this strategy to international efforts if we are to have the greatest impact.
David Mayhew, Prime Ministers Dementia Envoy and Chairman of Alzheimers Research UK
Important achievements on dementia so far include:
- over 1.46 million people have become Dementia Friends
- over 600,000 NHS and social care staff have been trained in better supporting people with dementia
- over 142 communities across England have signed up to be dementia friendly communities
- two thirds of those with dementia now receive a diagnosis of dementia more than ever before
- we invested 50 million in creating dementia friendly environments in hospitals and care homes
- record numbers of people participating in dementia research