Cameron Announces Dementia Champions
- 09 Jan
David Cameron announces an improvement in hospital care, especially for dementia patients.
As part of the care quality measures, dementia champions will be installed on every NHS ward, and there will be a dementia nursing expert in each NHS organisation.Under measures announced by Mr Cameron to improve the standards of care in hospitals, all nurses will have to do hourly rounds of their patients.
He is also saying that as one in four patients suffer with dementia, every worker in the Health Service will have to receive specialist training in dealing with the illness.
The government will ensure that every NHS ward will have a ‘dementia champion' and every NHS organisation a dementia nursing expert.
As part of the changes to improve the quality of care, there will be a ‘friends and family test' introduced, . This is where they will ask the staff, including GP surgeries, district nursing and community hospitals, if they would be happy for their friend of relative to be admitted to the hospital.
Mr Cameron said:
We have an excellent health service, we have very high standards in nursing care in most of our hospitals.
But recent examples - Stafford, Redditch and others - show we have got a problem in some places.
[The test] can act as a flashing light, if the numbers start to dip down you see a problem and then you know you need to do an investigation. The test will highlight where 'there is a basic standard of dignity, cleanliness and respect.The Alzheimer's Society said:
People with dementia occupy a quarter of hospital beds yet many are not receiving the care they deserve.
Having a dementia champion on each ward and giving access to online training to all staff could be a way of driving up standards. 800,000 people in the UK have dementia.
We agree that improving hospital care for people with dementia must remain a priority, but the big issue will be whether these laudable aspirations become a reality without specific funding. For those with the condition the proof will be in the pudding.There is also plan to improve dementia diagnosis rates by asking anyone over the age of 75 about their memory on any unrelated visit to the doctors.
GPs will be paid for asking questions about patients' memories with anyone who admits to having problems being offered a screening test to see if they are at risk.
The Prime Minister wants older people to be checked when they visit the doctor for any reason, but many GPs fear patients will be put off visiting the doctors, even when suffering potentially serious health problems, because they will not want to be diagnosed with the disease.
Image source: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/128071
Related articles
- 11 Sep
People in Bedfordshire can find mental health support through an audio guide
The guides have been written by clinical psychologists and are available to download in print or listen to as an audio file, reports Bedfordshire News.Dr Judy Baxter, Clinical Director with BCCG and...
- 10 Sep
Police officers in Dorset to receive mental health training
The partnership with the University comes as part of the county’s Mental Health Street Triage Project. It is hoped to equip officers with improved knowledge and skills to assess members of the...
- 09 Sep
People in Peterborough can refer themselves for mental health services
Through a drive to offer support to more people and ease pressure on doctors, people living in Peterborough can self-refer themselves to mental health services, reports Peterborough Today.Dr Adrian...
- 08 Sep
The first mental health centre for men
The site has been set up by Alex Eaton, whose dad took his own life and has suffered with mental health problems himself, in Burton upon Trent, reports BBC Newsbeat.Mr Eaton said: "We are the only...
- 07 Sep
NHS trust told no mental health beds available
Dr Bohdan Solomka has said that on Sunday a lack of beds were applied across the NHS and among private providers, reports the BBC. The director of the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trusts...
- 07 Sep
Over 16,000 mental health referrals for young people have been rejected
Between July last year and June this year, data from the NHS has found that Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services rejected 5,396 referrals, reports STV News.Over the last three years 16,565...
- 04 Sep
New mental health centre to open in Ardwick
Plans to build a new £6m treatment and recovery centre in Manchester have been revealed. It will be built in Ardwick and be run by Alternative Futures Group, reports the Manchester Evening...
- 03 Sep
Research finds more chance of re-offending if mental health issues are present
Research has found that ex-prisoners with mental health problems and drug and alcohol misuse are more likely to commit violent offences after release than other former prisoners, reports the...
- 02 Sep
Drop in the number of people with mental health issues held in cells
Recent figures have found that the Crisis Care Concordat has seen over 10,000 people receive care from mental health nurses with the support from police officers, reports the Burton Mail.Figures have...
- 02 Sep
Mental health social work scheme accepting applications
100 places are now available for applicants who have a 2:1 or above undergraduate degree and can demonstrate attributes such as resilience and empathy, reports Community Care.The Think Ahead...
What are the Future Funding Arrangements for Supported and Sheltered Housing? "Really enjoyable presentation, knowledge of presenters was excellent" M.D. - Community Integrated Care
