DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
News Release issued by The Government News Network on
Consultation on
Future for Dementia Care and Review on the use of Anti-Psychotic Drugs
Health Minister Ivan Lewis today outlined proposals to improve
the quality of dementia care and provide more help for people with
dementia, as he launched a consultation on the first ever National
Dementia Strategy.
The full Strategy, to be launched in the Autumn, will have three
main aims:
- to increase awareness of dementia and remove the
stigma associated with it
- ensure early diagnosis and
intervention
- improve the quality of care that people with
dementia receive
Dementia can be a devastating disorder for those who develop the
illness and the families that care for them. There are currently
an estimated 570,000 people with dementia in England, and this
figure is expected to double in the next 30 years.
The Government's announcement today includes a number of
immediate actions, as well as other proposals which will be
consulted on over the coming months. These include:
- An immediate review into the prescribing and use of
anti-psychotic drugs to treat sufferers of dementia. This work
will be completed before the publication of the National Dementia
Strategy in the Autumn.
- The government will hold a summit over the summer with key
stakeholders and research organisations to consider a planned
programme of research into dementia and the potential for further
development.
- Consult on the appointment of a named
'Dementia Care Advisor' to be the single contact
throughout diagnosis and treatment for people with dementia
-
Consider the establishment of more memory clinics, where patients
can get information about their condition, as well as learning
techniques for improving their memory
- Engage with
stakeholders on the recommendation for care homes and acute
hospitals to have a key staff member identified as responsible for
handling dementia patients, which will help care homes move away
from drug-related therapies for tackling dementia
This is only
part of a wider package of measures the government is taking to
improve the lives of older people, including a 3 year social care
transformation programme supported by £500 million, the Dignity in
Care campaign, the review of No Secrets and amending the Health
and Social Care Bill to strengthen protection of the elderly in
care homes.
Health Minister, Ivan Lewis, said:
"Dementia is a condition affecting an increasing number of
families in our society and is one of the greatest challenges now
facing NHS and social care services. That is why this first ever
national dementia strategy is so important. It will set out how we
will improve the quality of life for people with dementia and
their families, improve the quality of care dementia sufferers
receive, increase awareness of the condition and ensure earlier
diagnosis and intervention.
"The consultation is about ensuring the final strategy we
publish in the autumn truly fulfils my commitment to bring
dementia out of the shadows."
Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, said:
"Today is a landmark day for people with dementia and their
carers, as the Government recognises dementia as a national
priority. Dementia is a devastating condition caused by diseases
of the brain, yet only a third of people ever receive a diagnosis
and families are often left to cope alone until they reach crisis point.
"It's time to drag dementia care out of the dark ages
and change the way we treat some of our most vulnerable older
people. The Department's actions and proposals are a great
start. The review of antipsychotic drugs to stop dangerous over
prescription to people with dementia is urgently needed. The
research summit is also a crucial opportunity to address the fact
that dementia research is drastically underfunded in the UK.
"The Alzheimer's Society looks forward to leading the
fight against dementia by working with the Government, NHS and
local authorities to make this ambitious plan a reality."
The National Dementia Strategy is part of the wider package of
measures the Government is taking to improve the lives of elderly
people, including people with dementia. We have already launched
the "Worried about your memory" campaign to increase
awareness of dementia and are taking action through the
publication of the Carers Strategy, the review of No Secrets and
amending the Health and Social Care Bill to strengthen protection
of the Elderly in Care Homes through the Human Rights Act.
The consultation will run from 19 June to 11 September 2008.
Notes to Editors
1. In August 2007 Ivan Lewis announced the development of a
National Dementia Implementation Plan, which will transform the
lives of dementia sufferers and their families.
2. Direct costs of dementia to the NHS are currently estimated to
be in the region of £3.3 billion per year. The NHS in England
spent some £60.9 million on dementia drugs during 2005.
3. Dementia costs the UK economy £17 billion a year
4. It is estimated that there are currently 700,000 people in the
UK with dementia, with approximately 570,000 in England
5. In the next 30 years the number of people with dementia in the
UK will double to 1.4 million in and the costs will treble to over
£50 billion a year
6. The final National Dementia Strategy is expected in October 2008.
7. Dementia is one of the main causes of disability in later
life, ahead of some cancers, cardiovascular disease and stroke
8. Regional consultation events are as follows.
LEEDS 23rd
JUNE
STOCKTON-on-TEES 24th JUNE
BIRMINGHAM 24th
JUNE
DONCASTER 30th JUNE
YEOVIL 1st JULY
NEWCASTLE 9th
JULY
LONDON 11th JULY
NORWICH 14th JULY
PRESTON 17th
JULY
PLYMOUTH 17th JULY
FARNHAM 17th JULY
BRISTOL 23rd
JULY
EASTWELL MANOR, KENT 23rd JULY
WARRINGTON 24th
JULY
HERTFORDSHIRE 22nd JULY
STANSTED 25th
JULY
LEICESTER 20th AUGUST