This Guidance sets out the process and associated standards for making a diagnosis of dementia in primary health care services, and by specialist memory assessment services.
We have begun work to develop an interactive map of memory services, cafés and groups in the South West.
Care Services Minister, Paul Burstow has announced £10 million extra funding for memory services to help identify people with dementia earlier and treat them more effectively.
This report provides full results of a voluntary survey of PCTs and Care Trusts which commission memory assessment services for dementia and follows a provisional report published on 19 July 2011.
A recent letter issued by Alistair Burns, National Clinical Director for Dementia, 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.
The guidance sets out specifications for a specialist assessment service for people with a possible or suspected diagnosis of dementia.
Sir Ian Carruthers, Chief Executive of NHS South West, recently wrote to South West Chief Executives and South West Directors of Adult Social Care outlining the next steps on implementing the four national priorities set out in Quality outcomes in dementia.
The third issue of the Living Well with Dementia bulletin provides features on achievements in implementing the National Dementia Strategy across the South West of England. This includes work to raise awareness, improving early diagnosis and early intervention, delivering better dementia care in general hospitals and care homes and developing an informed and effective workforce for people with dementia.
This issue provides features on Partnership events, such as the Dementia Summit 2010 and the regional conference on improving dementia care in general hospitals. There are updates on regional work to raise awareness, improve dementia care in care homes and develop an informed and effective workforce for people with dementia.
The South West Dementia Partnership has agreed as a priority the development of improved memory assessment services to enable a year on year increase in the rates of diagnosis of dementia.