11.09.14
Stevens commits to improving dementia diagnosis
NHS England boss Simon Stevens has pledged that there will be a major commitment to pushing up dementia diagnosis rates in the UK.
His comments, made at yesterday’s Alzheimer’s Society Conference, come as NHS England has published a new Dementia Toolkit aimed at helping GPs make a more timely diagnosis of the condition.
The new Toolkit is also aimed at offering post-diagnostic support, which includes practical task-based help including specific interventions such as cognitive stimulation therapy.
Figures suggest that more than 800,000 Britons have dementia, but about half of those living with the condition may not have had a formal diagnosis.
Stevens said: “The biggest test of the NHS is going to be how it treats older citizens and, in particular, how we treat people with dementia. If we get it right for people with dementia, we will get it right for everybody.
“We are looking at making a step change in improving the proportion of people who get a diagnosis. We are looking at going from under half of people currently to two-thirds of people with dementia getting a diagnosis by 2015.”
Health secretary Jeremy Hunt has called for “a revolution in out-of-hospital care” so that those with dementia get support from community services and GPs.
“The battle to improve the way that we look after people with dementia, the support we give families looking after people with dementia, the way we as a society react to dementia that is the litmus test of our commitment to make Britain the best country in the world to grow old in,” he said.
Professor Alistair Burns, national clinical director for dementia at NHS England, added that being diagnosed with dementia is the start of a life-changing journey, and that's why it's so important that to reach the ambition of increasing dementia diagnosis, correctly, in more people, and putting in place the support they need and deserve.
“We are working hard to support CCGs in providing services to make high quality diagnoses,” he said. “We know there is significant variation across the country and we are encouraging those with the higher rates to support those with lower rates.”
New research published by the Alzheimer’s Society has revealed that the cost of dementia in the UK has hit £26bn a year, with sufferers, their carers and families shouldering two-thirds of the cost themselves.
(Image: c. Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
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