Dementia friendly A&E departments in Wales

6 Nov 2015 10:17 AM

Emergency departments in Wales are becoming dementia friendly as staff undergo vital training thanks to Welsh Government funding.

Members of unscheduled care teams from every health board area in Wales have undergone Royal College of Nursing-accredited dementia best practice training to equip them with the skills to deliver high-quality and person-centred care and support for people with dementia.

To ensure care at the front door of the hospital for people with dementia is improved, the training ensures emergency department staff:

• Have a greater understanding of dementia and its impact on individuals
• Can reflect on current practice and make changes accordingly
• Can recognise the role of carers and families and know how to engage with them.

At least one nurse from every Welsh emergency department has been trained as a facilitator, enabling them to train their colleagues in the programme.

Health and Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford said:

“In April, I set out how the Welsh Government plans to make Wales a dementia-friendly nation – one of our goals is to make sure NHS staff who have contact with members of the public have the right skills to provide the right type of care and support for people with dementia sufferers when they come to hospital.

“Many people with dementia tell us that visiting healthcare settings can be very stressful but schemes like this bring us a step closer to becoming a dementia-friendly nation.

“I have set the NHS challenging new targets – supported by additional funding – which will make it easier for people with dementia to receive a timely diagnosis and appropriate care and support afterwards.”