A National Dementia Declaration will be launched today at the Department of Health conference, Improving Dementia Care.
Held in London, the Declaration outlines seven outcomes people with dementia, and their carers, say they would like to see in their lives.
The Declaration has come to fruition through the Dementia Action Alliance, set up by 45 charity, public and private sector organisations, to form the first ever united front against Dementia.
The Alliance aims to bring about radical changes in the way society responds to dementia and to transform the quality of life for people living with the condition.
Ruth Sutherland, Interim Chief Executive of Alzheimer's Society, said: "The Dementia Action Alliance provides an unprecedented opportunity to bring about real change for people with dementia. Putting dementia on the map in such a way will not only transform lives but also has the potential to save millions of pounds.
'There are 750,000 people living with dementia in the UK and this costs the country £20bn a year. It is without doubt the health and social crisis of this generation so this joint approach cannot come soon enough. The formation of the Alliance and the signing of the Declaration mark the beginning of a journey, not the end."
The seven outcomes of the Declaration include; having personal choice, living in an enabling and supportive environment, having support to help them live their lives.
The Declaration also defines what each Alliance member plans to do to improve the quality of life of people with dementia in England: Increasing dementia-specific training and campaigning for a more far-reaching place for dementia on the research and policy agendas will help ensure these plans have the potential to improve the lives of people with dementia, and their carers.
The organisations will report publicly on their work, and share knowledge and best practice amongst a membership of millions.
Paul Burstow, Care Services Minister, said: "Dementia is more than a health issue; it's one of the defining social challenges of our time. We have to prepare ourselves now for the impact this will have on our society as our population ages.
"This Dementia Declaration shows tremendous commitment from across health and care services and the voluntary sector, to transform services and tackle stigma to make a difference for people with dementia and their families. Willingness to join forces to act should spur more organisations to join this movement for change."
PDF version A new 'dementia map' of the UK shows stark variations in the number of people suffering from the disease and those who have actually received a medical diagnosis.
Researchers also predict that more than a million people will suffer from dementia by 2021.
The map shows that Dorset has the lowest rates of diagnosis, with just 26% knowing they suffer from dementia.
But at the other end of the spectrum, in Belfast that figure rises to 69%.
The study was produced by The Alzheimer's Society and Alzheimer's Scotland with the help of the supermarket chain Tesco.
Researchers applied previously established rates of prevalence of dementia to government population estimates.
It then compared those figures to statistics compiled by GPs of people diagnosed with dementia in 2010.
To read more http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12598706
A Government campaign to raise awareness of the early signs and symptoms of dementia is being launched today (Friday 4 March) by Care Services Minister Paul Burstow.
Aimed at challenging misconceptions about the disease, the campaign targets the family and friends of people at risk of dementia who are likely to be the first to see the signs and can encourage their loved one to see their GP.
While there is no cure, the right treatment and support can help slow the progression of the condition – meaning people are able to keep the person they love for longer.
Despite this, only around 40% of people with dementia in England receive a formal diagnosis. This means almost 400,000 people could be going without the vital support the NHS can offer.
The £1.2 million campaign will feature TV, radio and print ads. It will initially be piloted in two regions – the North West and Yorkshire and Humber – and if successful will be rolled out across the country.
The TV advert tells the story of a daughter as she becomes aware that her dad is struggling in a number of situations, such as leaving pans on the hob and forgetting where his car is parked. While accepting it was a hard issue to raise with him, the message is that acting on her concerns and getting help means she can keep the dad she knows for longer.
Care Services Minister Paul Burstow said:
“People are afraid of dementia and rather than face the possibility someone they love has the condition, they can wrongly put memory problems down to ‘senior moments’.
“But if you are worried, the sooner you discuss it and help the person seek support the better. Don’t wait until a crisis forces your hand. Being diagnosed with dementia won’t make the condition worse but leaving it untreated will.
“We can’t cure dementia, but we can help you keep the person you love for longer.”
Dementia is a progressive and eventually terminal condition, but with early intervention and the right support people with dementia can continue to live well for many years.
National Clinical Director for Dementia, Professor Alistair Burns said:
"Getting a timely diagnosis of dementia is vital and we know that those who do receive one don't regret it. On the contrary, knowing about their condition helps them gain control and allows them and their families to seek the services and support they need.
"Timely early diagnosis and supportive interventions allow people to plan for the future while they still can. They have been shown to reduce care home admissions and improve the quality, not only of the life of the person with dementia, but also their family, carers and friends."
Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Society, said:
“A diagnosis of dementia is not just a label. It is vital to help people access support, get treatment and make sense of what is happening to them. People with dementia and their families often tell us that they were fearful of a diagnosis but that it gave them certainty and the ability to begin understanding what they can do to live well with dementia.
“But the big question is, how much do you really know about dementia? As dementia cases increase, we all need to take the time to understand and talk about dementia as families and as a society. Alzheimer’s Society is a good place to start or talk to your GP if you are worried about your memory.”
Today’s campaign follows the successful national campaign, ‘I have dementia – I also have a life’, which ran last year. That campaign aimed to raise awareness of the condition and challenge the belief that people with dementia are not able to still enjoy life.
This follows our announcement yesterday that the Department of Health will not seek any exceptions to the Equality act and the NHS must never discriminate based on age.
Notes to editors
-
For further information and copies of the print ad and TV stills please contact the Department of Health press office on 020 7210 5221. - To view the TV advert visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLpVqc0w_Ao
- Advertising for the pilot campaigns has been developed by DLKW Lowe. The pilot campaigns have cost £1.2m in total.
- Adverts will appear on TV, radio and in newspapers in the North West and Yorkshire and Humber for four weeks from today (4 March).
- For further information on dementia visit www.nhs.uk/dementia
- The following are symptoms of dementia and if people are concerned about themselves or someone else they should speak to their GP:
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=418388&...
The government's NHS overhaul could put dementia care at risk because of gaps in GPs' knowledge about the condition, a report warned today.
Consortia of GPs are to take responsibility for health commissioning from primary care trusts in 2013.
However, less than one-third of family doctors in London say they are able to diagnose dementia or provide enough help for sufferers, the study on dementia care in the capital by the Institute for Public Policy Research revealed.
This failure leads to people with the condition falling into crisis more quickly and costs more in the long term, it found.
With GPs due to take on commissioning responsibilities, the report warned that there were risks they may not be convinced of the need to invest in early intervention approaches to dementia care, despite the benefits.
The report also identified a lack of integration between health and social care, particularly poor services for the over-80s and a dearth of support for people from ethnic minorities. This is at a time when the number of over-80s from ethnic minorities in London is set to treble over the next 20 years.
"The extent and the quality of dementia care in London is clearly inadequate - particularly for the over-80s and for London's fast-growing population of elderly people from ethnic minorities," said Rick Muir, associate director at IPPR. "At the same time, GPs admit that they do not have the skills to deal with this growing care crisis."
He said the government's health reforms, which are being introduced through the Health and Social Care Bill, could make things worse unless safeguards were introduced urgently.
The report's recommendations included that:
• GPs need to receive early and continuing training in dementia, particularly in understanding the needs of hard-to-reach groups and in palliative care.
• GP consortia should be judged on the quality of dementia care they commission by the NHS Commissioning Board, which will have overall responsibility for the health service.
• Dementia should be a priority for health and well-being boards, which will be set up under the Bill to oversee local health and social care provision.
• Dementia advice services should be co-located in GPs' surgeries to provide doctors with extra support in signposting people to services.
The report was commissioned by the City of London Corporation's City Bridge Trust.
Related articles
One year on from the Dementia Declaration, what progress has been made?
Dementia patients failed by hospitals, finds inquiry
http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2011/03/15/116465/NHS-reforms-pu...
Providing high-quality care and support for the increasing numbers of people with dementia is one of the most challenging and complex issues of our time. The number of people with dementia is set to double to 1.4 million in the next 30 years and the costs are expected to treble.
ippr’s work in this area responds to the need for service providers and commissioners to have a better evidence base on ageing in London. This briefing identifies areas of unmet need, highlights problems with current provision, and draws attention to models of best practice.
This call is part of Joseph Rowntree Foundation's new scoping programme on 'Dementia and Society'. The aim of this specific call is to fund a project which will investigate how local communities in York need to change in order to be good places for people with dementia to live, and live well.
Please note that, because of the nature of the project, it is most likely that this work will be awarded to an individual or a pair working together, and unlikely that it will be awarded to a team of more than three. This is because the contractor(s) will be working closely with the local stakeholders and the Programme Manager, and it will be essential that they form a good and consistent working relationship, with a regular presence in York.
- Download the full information (PDF, 130KB)
- Application form and guidance (Word, 140KB)
- Registration and budget form (Excel, 260KB)
http://www.jrf.org.uk/funding/calls-for-proposal/dementia-and-society
National Audit of Dementia Services – Establishment of Memory Services (ROCR/11/2088VOLU)
This is a letter from Alistair Burns, National Clinical Director for Dementia. It notifies PCT Medical Directors of a proposed data collection exercise starting in May 2011, about the establishment of memory services, as part of a National Audit of Dementia Services being undertaken by the NHS Information Centre on behalf of the Department of Health.
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersandcirculars/De...
This month we are focusing on dignity and dementia. Dementia can affect those who are well below retirement age and early onset dementia is the subject of one of three new films about dementia from Social Care TV. It looks at the particular challenges faced by people who are diagnosed with dementia at a relatively young age. We now have extensive resources on dementia which can all be accessed through our Dementia Gateway. Meanwhile our Dignity in Care guide has plenty of practical ideas for improving the care experience of people who use services.
- Dementia films
- Carer Caroline Odgen blog - personal experiences of dementia
- Dementia Gateway
- Prevention and early intervention in dementia
- Dignity in Care guide
- Dignity in Care network
"Unacceptable" failures by hospitals to meet older people's nutritional and dignity needs have been uncovered by the Care Quality Commission.
Three of 12 hospitals visited by inspectors failed to meet essential standards of nutrition and dignity laid down by the regulator. The CQC said Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust and Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust could face enforcement action. Three other hospitals needed to improve.
Poor nutrition and hydration have a detrimental effect on patients, especially those with dementia, and are linked to the increased probability of entering residential care.
Inspectors found instances of people not being helped to eat, not given enough to drink and being spoken to in a condescending manner.
Health secretary Andrew Lansley and the NHS Confederation slammed the standards at the three hospitals as "unacceptable".
"We in the NHS cannot tolerate the failure to meet minimum standards in any way, shape or form," said Keith Pearson, chair of the NHS Confederation. "We should remember that minimum standards are just the starting point. We should all expect to experience something better than that."
These are the first published reports from the CQC from inspections of 100 hospitals on whether the nutritional and dignity needs of older people are being met. A national report is due in September.
"These are not difficult things to get right - and the fact that staff are still failing to do so is a concern," said Jo Williams, chair of the CQC.
"I will be writing to the chair of every hospital where this inspection programme has identified poor care to ask what they plan to do address these issues."
The British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN), which campaigns for improved nutritional standards in health and social care, also raised concerns about the findings.
"Hospitals have all the evidence, guidance and training materials they need - much of it provided by BAPEN," said chair Dr Mike Stroud. "They should by now have made nutritional care a priority and have focused on redesigning systems to ensure that good nutritional care is delivered to all patients - it is therefore unbelievable that so many patients are still being let down by managers and staff over such fundamental issues of care."
Related articles
Dementia training lacking in most hospitals, study shows
Abuse and poor nutrition uncovered in care homes
Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board to be disbanded
http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2011/05/26/116887/hospitals-slam...
This review is a targeted inspection programme of NHS hospitals. It looks at whether older people are treated with respect and whether they get food and drink that meets their needs.
Download a report
We have published the first 12 reports from the Dignity and nutrition inspection programme.
You can download the reports below:
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
- Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology NHS Foundation Trust
- Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust
- Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Wye Valley NHS Trust
- Homerton University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust
- Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust
- Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
This review began in February 2011, and we expect to complete all the inspections within four months.
About the reports
Reports will be published as they are produced.
These reports will give a snapshot of our findings at the time of our visit, rather than a complete picture of behaviour across an entire hospital.
Our findings will be brought together in a national report which we will publish at the end of the programme.
Find out more
What services will we be looking at?
We will inspect 100 selected NHS hospitals. These hospitals will be selected partly based on what we already know about their performance and partly at random.
How is the programme carried out?
All inspection visits will be unannounced.
The teams will be led by CQC compliance inspectors who will be supported by:
- External nurse advisers – senior nursing staff who have broad experience and current ‘on the ground’ responsibilities, so that they can check clinical practice against current professional guidance.
- Experts by experience – people who can provide the perspective of patients.
We will collect the views of patients on the wards we visit, and we will also use feedback we already hold from local involvement networks and other local groups.
An independent panel of representatives from royal colleges, regulators, charities, advocates and other stakeholder organisations will provide expert advice to the programme.
During their visits, the inspection teams will use parts of the observation tool that we designed with the Royal College of Nursing to assess compliance with Outcome 5.
Regional compliance teams will follow up any concerns that we find. They will take swift regulatory action where needed, according to our usual processes.
The review will help us to gauge the general quality of care in these areas, and give us valuable information when looking at the same issues in other sectors.
Equality and human rights impact assessment
http://www.cqc.org.uk/reviewsandstudies/inspectionprogramme-dignityandnu...
We have published the second batch of reports from the Dignity and nutrition inspection programme.
You can now find reports for:
- St Helens and Knowsley NHS Trust
- Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust
- Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- The Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust
- Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Kingston Hospital NHS Trust
- Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
- Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust
- Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
- North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust
- York Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Find out more about the inspection
This programme intends to look at 100 NHS trusts, and focuses on whether people are treated with dignity and respect and get food and drink that meets their needs.
Further inspection reports will be published at weekly intervals over the course of the summer. A national report into our key findings will be published in September.
http://www.cqc.org.uk//newsandevents/newsstories.cfm?cit_id=37390&FAArea...
Common core principles for supporting people with dementia: a guide to training the social care and health workforce
The 'Common core principles for supporting people with dementia' have been produced jointly by Skills for Care and Skills for Health. They can be used to support workforce development for any member of staff, in any health or social care setting, working with people at any stage of dementia. They can also be used to inform the content of curricula and training courses
Please note: the attached document has not been fully tagged for accessibility. If you require an accessible version of the document please email mb-web-feedback@dh.gsi.gov.uk
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/Publicati...
More money and expertise will be ploughed in to dementia research in the hope of moving closer to finding a cure or better treatment for the millions of families affected by this devastating condition, Care Services Minister Paul Burstow announced today.
The Minister has joined forces with 17 experts and interested parties from across Government, universities, charities, industry and research organisations to look at ways to work together to increase the volume and impact of dementia research and improve the lives those living with this devastating condition.
They have today launched a ‘Route Map for Dementia Research’ which:
• pledges up to £20 million from the Department of Health over five years for four new National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Units;
• commits the Medical Research Council to increase funding for neurodegeneration research by ten percent to £150million over the next four years to 2015;
• boosts the number of experts in the dementia field through new Academic Clinical Fellowships;
• strengthens links between public and private research sectors to identify new opportunities for partnership; and
• ensures more patients and carers get involved in research through the NIHR’s Dementia and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network which will facilitate research in the NHS and care home sector.
The Ministerial Advisory Group on Dementia Research covers the full range of scientific activity around care for people with dementia, cure and prevention. They identified specific areas most urgently in need of good quality research including the evaluation of prevention and public health interventions,
the influence of genes and the environment in the development of the disease, alternatives to antipsychotic drugs, stem cell research, and a better understanding of how the brain is affected by dementia.
Care Services Minister Paul Burstow said:
“Dementia is one of the biggest challenges we face. It's an indiscriminate disease that cruelly chips away at our loved ones, leaving those living with it in fear of losing the very essence of who they are.
“We need to better understand dementia if we are to counter its effects more successfully. Research is the key to developing new treatments, transforming care and ultimately to finding a cure for this devastating disease.
“We spent almost £19 million on dementia research last year. But more must be done, that’s why the Coalition Government made this commitment to increase dementia research. I am delighted that we have been able to unveil this plan to drive forward research“.
Dr Declan Mulkeen, Director of Research Programmes at the Medical Research Council (MRC), said:
"Neurodegenerative diseases, which include Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, can be devastating for those affected and for their families and friends. Through investment in scientific research excellence and by working in partnership with leading charities, Government and industry, the MRC will speed up progress towards real improvements in early diagnosis and the development of new treatments."
- ENDS -
Notes to editors
1. For media enquiries please contact the Department of Health news desk on 020 7210 5221.
2. For a copy of the Headline Report and Route Map please go to:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_127750
3. The Department of Health spent £18.6m on dementia research in 2010-11.
4. The areas of research identified by the Ministerial Advisory Group on Dementia as high level priorities are: evaluation of prevention strategies and public health interventions; interaction between environment and genetic risks; alternatives to antipsychotic drug use; social care research; behavioural and psychological interventions; quality of end of life/palliative care; impact of built environment and assistive technology; carer health and well-being and effectiveness of carer interventions; quality and impact of acute care; assessment of different models of community-based care; development of predictive animal/cellular models; better understanding of the interplay of disease pathologies; alternatives to the amyloid cascade hypothesis; stem cell research; provider training and service development; co morbidity and the connection between physical and cognitive factors; and falls prevention.
5. The Department of Health (DH) works to improve the health and well-being of people in England. The Department sets overall policy on all health issues and is responsible for the provision of health services through the National Health Service. See: www.dh.gov.uk
6. The Department of Health Research and Development budget for 2010/11 was £980 million. The DH R&D budget supports research through two routes: the National Institute for Health Research (£936m); and the DH Policy Research Programme (£44m). The NIHR commissions research for practice – in the NHS, public health and social care. The PRP commissions research to support policy-making in the Department.
7. The National Institute for Health Research provides the framework through which the research staff and research infrastructure of the NHS in England is positioned, maintained and managed as a national research facility. The NIHR provides the NHS with the support and infrastructure it needs to conduct first-class research funded by the Government and its partners alongside high-quality patient care, education and training. Its aim is to support outstanding individuals (both leaders and collaborators), working in world class facilities (both NHS and university), conducting leading edge research focused on the needs of patients. http://www.nihr.ac.uk/
8. NIHR Biomedical Research Units in dementia - Following the coalition government’s commitment to dementia as a research priority, the Department of Health via the NIHR has committed to establish up to four new NIHR Biomedical Research Units (BRUs) in dementia within NHS/university partnerships. The new NIHR BRUs in dementia will deliver translational research aiming to pull through findings from basic science into benefits for patients. NIHR BRUs drive innovation in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of ill-health and are a key component of the NHS contribution to our nation's international competitiveness, building on the best research leaders and enabling host institutions to achieve critical mass in specific priority research areas. NIHR currently supports research in dementia through its Biomedical Research Centres and research programmes. The new Units will be announced in September 2011. Go to: http://www.nihr.ac.uk/infrastructure/Pages/infrastructure_biomedical_research_units.aspx
9. The NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowships are part of the Integrated Academic Training Programme that provides a clear, coherent and integrated training and career path for medically and dentally qualified academic staff. NIHR ACF posts are aimed at those who are at the early stages of their specialty training and show outstanding potential for a career in academic medicine or dentistry. The duration of an ACF is for a maximum of 3 years (4 years for GPs). During this time, alongside clinical training, ACFs will be able to develop their academic skills and be supported in preparing an application for a Research Training Fellowship (to undertake a higher research degree) or an application for a place on an educational programme (leading to a higher degree). For further details are available at: http://www.nihrtcc.nhs.uk/intetacatrain/acfs
10. For almost 100 years the Medical Research Council has improved the health of people in the UK and around the world by supporting the highest quality science. The MRC invests in world-class scientists. It has produced 29 Nobel Prize winners and sustains a flourishing environment for internationally recognised research. The MRC focuses on making an impact and provides the financial muscle and scientific expertise behind medical breakthroughs, including one of the first antibiotics penicillin, the structure of DNA and the lethal link between smoking and cancer. Today MRC funded scientists tackle research into the major health challenges of the 21st century. www.mrc.ac.uk
11. The Ministerial Advisory Group on Dementia Research’s membership was:
Paul Burstow, MP (Chair) - Minister of State for Care Services
Adrian Alsop* - Director for Research, Economic and Social Research Council
Professor Clive Ballard - Head of Research, Alzheimer's Society
Dr Peter Barnes - Medical Director, Janssen-Cilag Ltd
David Behan - Director General for Social Care, Local Government and Partnerships, DH and Chair of the National Dementia Strategy Board
Professor Alistair Burns - DH National Clinical Director for Dementia and Professor of Old Age Psychiatry, University of Manchester
Professor Dame Sally C Davies - Director General, Research and Development, Department of Health
Stephen Ford - Chief Executive, the Parkinson’s Disease Society
Professor James Goodwin - Head of Research, Help the Aged and Age Concern
Baroness Sally Greengross - Vice Chair, All Parliamentary Group on Dementia and Older People, House of Lords
Professor Chris Kennard - Chair of the Neurosciences and Mental Health Board, Medical Research Council
Professor Richard Morris - Special Advisor, Wellcome Trust
Dr Declan Mulkeen* - Director of Research and Training, Medical Research Council
Baroness Elaine Murphy - Secretary, All Party Parliamentary Group on Mental Health, House of Lords
Professor Martin Rossor - Director of the Dementia and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network (DeNDRoN)
Noreen Siba - Managing Director, International Longevity Centre UK
Rebecca Wood - Chief Executive, Alzheimer's Research Trust and Chair of UKARF Working Group on Dementia Research
Barbara Woodward-Carlton - Lay member of DeNDRoN Clinical Studies Board (Dementia)
* The Engineering and Physical Science Research Council and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council have agreed that they will be represented jointly by the Economic and Social Research Council and the Medical Research Council.
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=420129&...
This Equalities action plan sets out a series of planned actions in relation to the implementation of the National Dementia Strategy and the Dementia Commissioning Pack. It supplements the Equality Impact Assessment published alongside the National Dementia Strategy in 2009 and has been compiled in line with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/Publicati...
NHS Memory Services receive £10 million injection
£10 million is being made available to kick start a transformation in the way people with dementia are treated by the NHS, Care Services Minister, Paul Burstow announced today. The extra funding for memory services will help to identify people with dementia earlier and treat them more effectively.
The investment aims to boost provision of advice and support on memory services including information about local care and support services. It is expected to fund follow up and review services including peer support, assessment of carers’ needs as well as advice and support on planning for the future. Local authorities and Primary Care Trusts will decide where the money is best spent in each community. This additional funding will provide a powerful incentive to local NHS and local authorities to prioritise putting in place long lasting, high quality dementia services.
Today, the Department of Health is also publishing the first national audit of memory services which shows:
• 94 per cent of Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) have a dedicated memory service for dementia and a further four per cent of PCTs are planning to set up a memory service;
• average PCT spending on memory services has increased by 22 per cent between 2008/9 and 2009/10 from £486,000 to £593,000;
• The average number of people using a memory service increased by 57%, from 605 in 2008/09 to 951 in 2010/11; and
• 44 per cent of hospitals have identified a clinical leader for dementia and almost half of all hospitals have, or are developing a care pathway for dementia.
This shows real progress is being made in giving everyone in England access to a memory service. These will provide diagnosis and support for people with dementia and their carers and the Government is providing additional funding to support this. The audit results show, however that more needs to be done to improve clinical leadership for people with dementia.
There are approximately 180,000 people with dementia being prescribed anti-psychotic drugs, of which 144,000 of them are being prescribed inappropriately. This results in as many as 1,800 unnecessary deaths per year.
The NHS must provide better access to alternatives to medicating the symptoms of dementia. By helping people get an early diagnosis the Government can support them in accessing the right services and support at the right time so that they can live well with dementia.
Care Services Minister, Paul Burstow said:
“While there is no cure for dementia, we know that early diagnosis and early intervention can help people take control of their condition and plan for the future. With access to the right services and support, people with dementia can continue to live well for many years. Memory services have a really important role to play in this.
“It’s not always easy to talk about but dementia is an issue that we can not ignore. That is why today I have announced a further £10million for memory services. I want to further strengthen the support memory services can provide and make it possible for all those who need it to be able to access the help they need.”
Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive of Alzheimer's Society said:
“Being diagnosed with dementia can leave people feeling isolated and alone unless they are given the necessary help and support. Memory services have a vital role to play in providing this lifeline so it is reassuring to see the government giving them the financial backing they need and that the number of people using memory services is increasing.
“However, we are still some way from having a nationwide picture of good quality care and support. It is vital that we continue to make advancements in the provision of memory services and work with hospitals to ensure best practice becomes the norm.”
The effects of dementia can be devastating for an individual and their family. Some 750,000 people in the UK currently suffer from dementia. Last year, the Government outlined four objectives for driving forward improvements in dementia care:
• good-quality early diagnosis and intervention for all;
• improved quality of care in general hospitals;
• living well with dementia in care homes; and
• reduced use of anti-psychotic medication.
The Government has set out the ambition for all hospitals to identify a clinical leader for dementia and develop a care pathway as evidence shows that some people with dementia can stay in hospital for too long because of their condition.
More worryingly, only around a third of people with dementia in England currently have a formal diagnosis. This places the UK in the bottom third of countries in Europe for diagnosis and means more than 400,000 people and their families are not getting access to vital support.
Making dementia memory services truly universal across the NHS is an important step in the right direction to improving early diagnosis and intervention.
Notes to Editors:
1) For more information on the audit of dementia memory services see link:
http://www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/mental-health/mental-health-surveys/establishment-of-memory-services--results-of-a-survey-of-pcts-final-figures-2011
2) To further help people live well with dementia, the Design Council in partnership with the Department of Health has launched a national innovation challenge titled; Living well with dementia, which will grant R&D funding to partnerships of entrepreneurial designers and service providers to develop innovative solutions for those diagnosed with dementia to live a better quality of life
3) Timely early diagnosis and supportive interventions allow people with dementia to plan for the future while they still can. They have been shown to reduce care home admissions and improve the quality, not only of the life of the person with dementia, but also their family, carers and friends.
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=421212&...
Six out of ten people with dementia go undiagnosed - £2 million campaign launched to tackle dementia
CORRECTION (£23bn estimate in second paragraph is attributable to Alzheimer’s Research UK , not NAO)
Six out of ten people with dementia in England go undiagnosed. This means almost 400,000 people could be going without the vital support the NHS and social care services can offer.
The National Audit Office estimates that, nationally, dementia costs health and social care services £8.2 billion per year. Alzheimer’s Research UK have estimated that the overall cost of dementia to society as a whole is £23 billion per annum. It is estimated that savings of £80 million could be made every year by improving hospital care for people with dementia.
In a survey carried out for the Department of Health, only around a third of adults aged over 40 agreed that they understand the differences between normal signs of ageing and signs of dementia, and close to a third of adults aged over 40 thought there was no support available for people with dementia.
A Coalition Government campaign to raise awareness of the early signs and symptoms of dementia is being launched today (Monday 7 November) by Care Services Minister Paul Burstow.
Care Services Minister Paul Burstow said:
“People are afraid of dementia and rather than face the possibility someone we love has the condition, we can wrongly put memory problems down to ‘senior moments’.
“But if we are worried, the sooner we discuss it and help the person seek support the better. Don’t wait until a crisis. Being diagnosed with dementia won’t make the condition worse but leaving it untreated will.
“We can’t cure dementia, but we can help keep the person we love for longer.”
Aimed at encouraging more people to seek an early diagnosis of dementia, the campaign targets the family and friends of people at risk of dementia who are likely to be the first to see the signs and can encourage their loved one to see their GP.
With many people seeing relatives at Christmas, the timing of the campaign is particularly poignant. The Alzheimer’s Society had 43 per cent more calls to its helpline in January this year than in December 2010.
While there is no cure, the right treatment and support can help slow the progression of the condition – meaning people are able to keep the person they love for longer.
The £2 million campaign will feature TV, radio and print ads. It was successfully piloted in the North West and Yorkshire & Humber NHS Regions in March this year. Among those adults aged 40+ who saw or heard the campaign:
· there was a higher incidence of those who said they would go to their GP if they experienced any symptoms or ask a close relative or friend to do so; and
· among all adults aged 40+ there was a significant increase in those believing that the earlier that dementia is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat the symptoms, and that with the right treatment the symptoms can be slowed down.
The TV advert tells the story of a daughter as she becomes aware that her dad is struggling in a number of situations, such as leaving pans on the hob and forgetting where his car is parked. While accepting it was a hard issue to raise with him, the message is that acting on her concerns and getting help means she can keep the dad she knows for longer.
It is estimated that every general hospital has excess costs of £6 million because of dementia, due to the worse outcomes for length of stay, mortality and institutionalisation. In hip fracture alone, better management of patients who also have dementia could save between £64 million and £102 million in England every year.
National Clinical Director for Dementia, Professor Alistair Burns said:
"Getting a timely diagnosis of dementia is vital and we know that those who do receive one don't regret it. On the contrary, knowing about their condition helps them gain control and allows them and their families to seek the services and support they need.
"Timely early diagnosis and supportive interventions allow people to plan for the future while they still can. They have been shown to reduce care home admissions and improve the quality, not only of the life of the person with dementia, but also their family, carers and friends."
Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Society, said:
“As the number of people with dementia increases, it is vital we all take time to understand and talk about the condition. People with dementia and their families often tell us they were fearful of seeking a diagnosis. However a diagnosis opened the door to support, treatment and information they wouldn’t otherwise have had access to and helped them plan for the future.
“This campaign has the potential to make a huge difference and Alzheimer’s Society is delighted to support it. If you are worried about your own or a loved one’s memory you should talk to your GP.”
Dr Clare Gerada, Chair of the Royal College of GPs said:
“This campaign is a welcome opportunity to raise awareness of early onset dementia and to think about how we can improve services to support people with dementia, their families and their carers. Many patients experience lapses in memory which can be perfectly natural as one gets older, and are not necessarily signs of anything more serious.
“Dementia encompasses a number of different conditions with variability in cause and effect. It is often difficult to diagnose, especially in the early stages. The campaign sets out to create a better understanding of the symptoms and the results of the pilots show the positive difference that can be made to the quality of people's lives by seeking help at an early stage.
“GPs need to have access to a wide range of services and resources such as memory clinics so that they can properly support people beyond diagnosis and help them live healthy, independent and productive lives for as long as possible. Management works best with teams working together - supported by experts and generalists from the voluntary, hospital and community sectors.”
Today’s campaign follows the successful national campaign, ‘I have dementia – I also have a life’, which ran last year. That campaign aimed to raise awareness of the condition and challenge the belief that people with dementia are not able to still enjoy life.
Dementia is a progressive and eventually terminal condition, but with early intervention and the right support people with dementia can continue to live well for many years.
Notes to editors:
- For further information and copies of the print ad and TV stills please contact the Department of Health press office on 020 7210 5221.
- To view the TV advert visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLpVqc0w_Ao
- Advertising for the pilot campaigns has been developed by DLKW Lowe. The campaign has cost £2m in total.
- Adverts will appear on TV, radio and in women’s magazines across England for six weeks from today (7 November).
- We have made significant progress in developing memory services in England, with 94 per cent of PCTs having a dedicated service and four per cent planning one; the average spend on memory services per PCT increased from £486,000 in 2008/09 to £593,000 in 2010/11 – an increase of 22 per cent.
- In January 2011 the Alzheimer’s Society received 1,866 calls to its helpline. In December 2010 it received 1,051.
- In England in 2010 there were an estimated 634,030 people with dementia (Mapping the Dementia Gap, study by Alzheimer’s Society and Tesco). There were 249,463 people on the QOF dementia register (i.e. with a diagnosis).
- The NAO report Improving Dementia Services in England - an interim report (2010) estimated the direct costs of dementia to the NHS as £1.3bn and the costs to social care as £6.9bn.
- Statistics: Ipsos MORI: “I would go to my GP if I experienced any symptoms of dementia” – 63 per cent of campaign recognisers strongly agreed with the statement versus 50 per cent among those not recognising it. “I would ask a close relative to go to their GP if they experienced any symptoms of dementia” – 59 per cent of campaign recognisers strongly agreed with the statement, versus 46 per cent among those not recognising it.
- For further information on dementia visit www.nhs.uk/dementia
- Ipsos Regional Pilot survey: The pre-campaign pilot survey was conducted in Granada and Yorkshire over three waves of the Ipsos MORI Capibus between 11th February and 3rd March 2011. Results are based on 760 respondents aged 40+ (377 in Granada and 386 in Yorkshire). The post-campaign pilot survey was conducted in Granada and Yorkshire over two waves of the Ipsos MORI Capibus between 1st and 13th April 2011. In addition an ad-hoc booster survey was conducted between 1st and 14th April 2011 in the same areas. Results are based on 787 respondents aged 40+. (426 in Granada and 358 in Yorkshire). All interviews were conducted on the Ipsos MORI Capibus (computer-assisted personal interviews), a face-to-face quota survey.
- The online omnibus survey was conducted in England by TNS, using sample size of 1,254 adults aged 40+.
- The following are symptoms of dementia and if people are concerned about themselves or someone else they should speak to their GP:
- struggling to remember recent events, although you can easily recall things that happened in the past?
- finding it hard to follow conversations or programmes on TV?
- forgetting the names of friends or everyday objects
- cannot recall things you have heard, seen or read
- repeating yourself or losing the thread of what you are saying
- having problems thinking and reasoning
- feeling anxious, depressed or angry about your memory loss
- finding that other people start to comment on your memory loss
- feeling confused even when in a familiar environment.
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As the Alzheimer's Research Trust became Alzheimer's Research UK at the House of Commons today, a new UK public poll reveals that we fear dementia more than cancer and other serious health conditions.
However, investment in dementia research remains severely under-funded despite an estimated 1.7 million people living with the condition by 2051, and over 820,000 people suffering from dementia in the UK today.
As reported by Alzheimer's Research UK, the YouGov polls of over 2000 people were designed to gauge public perception (and revealed the extent of our concerns) about dementia:
•31 per cent of respondents feared dementia most, with 27 per cent fearing cancer most and 18 per cent fearing death most
•Over half (52 per cent) of UK adults aged 30 – 50 fear dementia for their parents, compared to 42 per cent fearing cancer and 33 per cent heart attack
•Among retirees, 34 per cent worry about health the most, and more than other issues such as money (33 per cent). When asked specifically which conditions they worry about, 52 per cent worry about dementia, 33 per cent worry about cancer and 30 per cent worry about stroke.
Speaking ahead of the charity's re-launch, Rebecca Wood, Alzheimer's Research UK's Chief Executive said: "Public concern around dementia is at an all time high, yet dementia research is still the poor relation in both capacity and investment. We have such brilliant research talent in the UK which could make real inroads into defeating dementia with more support – our brain depends on theirs."
The charity says "research is the only answer to dementia" but new figures – from the charity – reveal that for every UK research scientist working on dementia, six work on cancer.
Dementia costs the UK economy £23bn per annum, more than cancer (£12bn) and heart disease (£8bn).
Sir Terry Practchett, the charity's patron, who has Alzheimer's disease said: "Alzheimer's is a large number of small tragedies usually played out behind closed doors, so in spite of the number living with it, the world still doesn't take much notice.
"When the world was shocked by HIV in the eighties, we saw a crash programme of research which has helped tame it enormously. We need the same kind of aggressive action on dementia now."
Paul Burstow, the care services minister promised government help for research into its "care, cure and cause".
He added: "The Department of Health's research budget is nearly £1 billion this year – I want more of that funding to be supporting dementia research. But we can only do that if the number and quality of the research proposals are of the right standard to justify the investment."
http://www.publicservice.co.uk/news_story.asp?id=15447
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