Building On Strengths to Improve Dementia Care

Tuesday, 21 February 2012

Doctors, nurses, health and social care teams will be joining forces with volunteers and people living with dementia at two special conferences next month to take forward latest developments in dementia care across the South West.

The events are being held in Exeter on 8 and 12 March to shine a spotlight on dementia care in hospitals and dementia care in the community.

The first event will focus on Primary Care services, such as improving rates of diagnosis, new ways of working, living well with dementia and latest research.

This will be hosted by two local GPs, Dr Nick Cartmell, from Devon, and Dr Martin Freeman from Gloucestershire, who are GP leads for dementia in the South West.

The conference will be chaired by Professor Nitin Purandare, Professor of Old Age Psychiatry at the University of Exeter, and a local GP. Guest speakers include Professor Roy Jones from the Research Institute for Care of the Elderly in Bath and a number of specialist clinicians from around the country. It is aimed at GPs, health and social care staff, commissioners, volunteers and community organisations.

Subjects for discussion include dementia as a long term condition; closing gaps in care and preventing hospital admission, plus commissioning of new services with more effective care that meets the needs of individual patients.

Dr Nick Cartmell said: “The role of the GP is central to assuring best outcomes for people living with dementia and their carers.

“We need to make the best use of the many skills and resources we have in the South West. It is important not only to improve diagnosis rates but to ensure that all those who are diagnosed with dementia, and their families and carers, continue to feel supported.”

Local innovations in community dementia care include a practice dementia nurse in Cornwall, dementia link worker in Gloucestershire and dementia adviser in Bristol and Somerset.

Building on Strengths is the theme of the second conference which will consider the progress made by NHS hospitals across the South West which have pioneered wide-ranging improvements for patients with dementia and their families. This programme is led by Alison Moon, Chief Nurse at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation, who is the region’s NHS Champion for Dementia Care in Hospital.

Speakers will include Sarah Waller, CBE, a former NHS Director of Nursing who is now Programme Director for Enhancing The Healing Environment at the Kings Fund, and Judi Spiers, broadcaster, patron of Age UK, Exeter and Ambassador for Hospicecare.

Discussions will include caring with compassion, improving the individual experience, enhancing the healing environment, building a force for change, the importance of nutrition and volunteers as partners in care.

Alison Moon said: “We have made great strides in improving dementia care in hospitals and it is clear that the South West Standards for Dementia Care in Hospital are making a real difference.

“There is strong clinical leadership at all levels within our general hospitals, with some outstanding examples of positive practice and excellent care.

“We know, however, that there is much more to do.

“We need to ensure that we continue to drive improvement so that awareness of the needs of people with dementia is evident throughout our hospitals, not just within elderly care services.

“We are committed to improving the experience of patients and their families and carers in hospitals and extending this work with partners to ensure the right support and care in the community.”