Failure of NHS over dementia ‘scandalous’

THE Government has been issued a stark warning about the “scandalous” failings of the NHS to cope with soaring numbers of dementia sufferers amid fears the crisis will deepen further.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has claimed there are huge disparities in care as patients living with dementia are more likely to be admitted to hospital with avoidable conditions – such as urinary tract infections, pressure sores and dehydration – than those who do not. Research by the CQC found dementia sufferers are more likely to stay in hospital longer, be re-admitted or to die there.

Concerns have been voiced that the already beleaguered NHS, which is facing the biggest overhaul in its history, will be unable to cope as the number of dementia patients is expected to dramatically increase.

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In North Yorkshire alone, is estimated the number of dementia sufferers will increase from 8,700 three years ago to 13,500 in 2020. The county is witnessing a dramatic shift in its demographic with more people looking to retire in the county while the overall population lives longer.

The Alzheimer’s Society’s chief executive, Jeremy Hughes, said: “This report lays bare the scandalous extent to which the NHS is failing people with dementia. Hospitals are supposed to be places of recovery but people with dementia are going in too often, staying too long and dying in a hospital bed much more than those with any other condition.

“A quarter of hospital beds are occupied by someone with dementia. Staff better trained in dementia care will reduce the length of hospital stays and save the NHS millions of pounds.

“Tolerating inaction on dementia care even a day longer is tantamount to playing Russian roulette with the lives of people with the condition. If we’re to avoid the next Mid-Staffs we need hospitals to commit to improve care now.”

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The CQC report, based on 20,000 inspections conducted last year, found that in 78 out of 151 local health authorities in England people with dementia who lived in care homes were admitted to hospital for an avoidable reason “significantly more” than people without dementia.

In 96 per cent of hospital trusts people with dementia stayed longer than those without the condition and in 85 per cent of trusts, people with dementia were “significantly more likely” to die in hospital than people without dementia.

The CQC called for “better identification of dementia” and comprehensive training for care staff after the report also found almost a third of hospital admissions for people with the condition did not include a record of their dementia, even though it had been identified in the past. The Alzheimer’s Society added that hospitals should drive up care standards by appointing a “dementia champion” to each ward.

The CQC’s Care Update also raises concerns about the quality of services for people with mental health issues and learning disabilities.

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The watchdog said “too many” independent mental health and learning disability services were not delivering care that “puts people first”.

CQC chief executive David Behan said while the majority of services are delivering “good quality care”, providers must “do more” to make sure care is based on patient’s individual needs.

He added: “A patient-centred culture of care needs strong leadership, openness and transparency, and CQC will look closely at this in the coming year, particularly in those services caring for some of the most vulnerable people in our society.”

The Government is finalising details of the radical shift in healthcare across the nation which will kick in from next month as NHS directors battle to slash spending by £20bn.

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Care and Support Minister Norman Lamb admitted there is “no excuse for delivering poor care”, and more needed to be done to ensure dementia sufferers get “the care and support they deserve”.

He added: “By exposing bad practice, and highlighting best practice, we are determined to drive up standards for everyone. We want the UK to be one of the best places for dementia care in Europe and are working towards making that a reality.

NHS Confederation chief executive Mike Farrar stressed efforts needed to be intensified to ensure the NHS was prepared for rising cases of dementia, with the number of sufferers expected to reach a million nationally in the next 30 years.