South West Dementia Partnership

This website is aimed at people working to implement the National Dementia Strategy in the South West of England. It provides information on the work of the South West Dementia Partnership, which brings together organisations from health and social care, the voluntary sector and people using dementia services to drive forward improvements in dementia care.

We have a multiagency steering group to oversee implementation of the National Strategy. The South West Alzheimer’s Society is ensuring that views of people with dementia and their carers are at the heart of all we do.

This page explains how we are working with people to support improvement and address common challenges to achieve specific priorities during 2011-12.

1. Good quality early intervention and diagnosis for all
To achieve our ambition to improve diagnosis rates we are supporting the establishment of and improved access to Memory Assessment Services. For example, we developed Guidance on the Commissioning of Memory Assessment Services (December 2010) and are supporting services to implement this using a peer review tool to monitor standards.

To improve the primary care response to dementia we are delivering local dementia leadership programmes. We are also working with deaneries to deliver education and training programmes to General Practitioners to improve the screening, diagnosis and early interventions in dementia. In addition, we have developed an early diagnosis toolkit, which supports case finding using evidence-based tools .

2. Improved quality of care in hospitals
The work to improve care for people with dementia while in hospital is led by a Regional Expert Reference Group chaired by Alison Moon, Regional Champion for Dementia Care in Hospitals.

The Expert Reference Group developed the South West Hospital Standards in Dementia Care in response to the many concerns expressed about poor quality care experienced by people with a dementia when they are in hospital. Action over the next 2 years to implement the 8 standards, alongside the findings of the National Audit of Dementia Care in Hospitals, will help to transform hospital care for people with a dementia. This includes a peer review of the standards, a route map to improve assessment and care, a resource pack to improve awareness, a project to improve volunteering in hospitals and a regional conference jointly with the Royal College of Psychiatrists in July 2011 to review the findings of the National Audit and showcase positive practice.

3. Living well with dementia in care homes
We have developed a ‘Dementia Quality Mark’ for care homes to support improved care for people living with dementia in care homes. We are supporting local councils to pilot the use of the framework and supporting materials. We will evaluate the implementation and disseminate the learning. We are also supporting one care home group with a bid to the Design Council’s “Public Service by Design” programme.

4. Reduce the use of antipsychotic medication
To reduce inappropriate prescribing of antipsychotic medication to people with dementia we have established an Expert Reference Group for Prescribing in Dementia Care. The Group has designed a programme of audit in primary and secondary care, supporting medicines management leads to ensure that robust improvement plans are in place. This has established a firm foundation for the national Call to Action programme to improve prescribing of antipsychotics for people with dementia.

The Group aims to ensure that training in working with people who present with behaviours that challenge is included within local training delivery plans and continuing professional development.

5. Living well with dementia in the community
We have reviewed the commissioning and provision of domiciliary care services. We will disseminate findings, showcase positive practice and deliver workshops to support improved access to flexible, responsive and personalised community support services.

We have also reviewed carers’ support elements of innovative projects and local plans and we are developing guidance on effective approaches for commissioners. This will support improved carer resilience and the provision of emergency support at times of crisis. In addition, we have surveyed current practices and the evidence of benefits and provided briefings for commissioners to support the improved use of telecare and telehealth.

6. A dementia-aware workforce able to support living well with dementia
We have established and facilitate a regional dementia workforce development network, which shares learning and positive practice. We have developed a web based dementia workforce development portal, which provides access to a range of education and learning resources on dementia to benefit anyone interested in dementia. These include dementia workbooks, supporting bite-sized learning, a library of learning resources around dementia and information about qualifications in dementia care.

7. A more responsive system of care
We will publish and disseminate a commissioning and practice implementation guide for transforming models of mental health care for people with dementia. We will also support the mainstreaming of dementia in the regional reablement programme.

8. Transparency
Dementia care in the South West is one of two conditions providing a focus for the launch a new web-based consumer information system in the South West, in October 2011. This service will provide the public, patients and services with information about what people should expect from services, local directories of services and resources, and standards of care and delivery allowing people to compare quality and outcomes and make informed decisions about their health, treatment and care.

Further information
You can find out more information about work to improve dementia care across the South West on this website www.southwestdementiapartnership.org.uk.

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