The specialist dementia nursing charity is renewing its call for the Government to fix dementia care and prioritise the condition, which is the leading cause of death in the UK
Dementia UK has set out a series of recommendations in response to the Government’s Change NHS engagement about the future of the NHS in England. Set to be published this year, the Government’s 10-year plan intends to build a health service fit for the future. But to do so it’s vital that it addressed the needs of people affected by dementia.
By drawing on the clinical expertise of its dementia specialist Admiral Nurses, as well as the views of its supporters and Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP), the charity has set out three key areas the Government must take action on:
- The need for increased specialist dementia nursing, especially in hospital and community settings, to directly improve outcomes and reduce the length and number of hospital stays for people living with dementia
- Increased support for carers navigating complex health and social care systems
- Urgent action to remove the barriers to care for communities that find it especially difficult to access support for dementia, including the introduction of an age-appropriate care pathway for people living with young onset dementia, where symptoms occur before the age of 65
Dementia UK surveyed almost 5,000 people with first-hand experience of dementia to help inform its recommendations, finding that:
- 73% told us that they did not receive the right care to meet their needs through the NHS
- Over three quarters (76%) of respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed that hospital care meets the specific needs of people living with dementia
- Two thirds (66%) disagreed or strongly disagreed that people with dementia and/or people who care for them can easily book and attend appointments at NHS community services
Nicky Murray cared for her dad, John, who had mixed dementia. He was admitted to hospital in March 2024 for two weeks after experiencing a fall and breaking his hip.
Nicky said: “What stuck with me the most throughout dad’s hospital stay was the lack of care and empathy from hospital staff. They didn’t know how to manage dad’s behaviour or how to communicate with him. It’s only because I was at dad’s bedside from 9:30am to 6:30pm every day for two weeks to advocate for dad that he received the care he needed.
“Towards the end of his stay I found out about dementia specialist nurses who helped get dad discharged to his care home where he transformed into a different person – his speech returned, and he smiled for the first time in two weeks.
“Based on my experience, there needs to be more stimulation for people with dementia in hospitals as well as dementia specialist nurses to advocate for both people living with the condition and their families.”
The NHS consultation is set to close in Spring 2025, and has been described as the UK Government’s biggest ever consultation on the future of the NHS.
Dementia UK’s Deputy Director of Policy, Campaigns and Public Affairs Andrew Pike comments: “The Government has an unprecedented opportunity to place dementia care firmly on its agenda through the new NHS 10-year plan this summer.
“We need a clear long-term plan for dementia care in the NHS. Too many people living with dementia are stuck in limbo, experiencing excruciating delays when trying to get a diagnosis and when seeking post-diagnostic care.
“More often than not, people are left to face dementia alone without the specialist support they need. With one million people living with dementia in the UK, it is more important than ever that this opportunity is seized.” For more information on Dementia UK’s campaigning activity, and to sign up to their Campaign Supporters Network to get involved with pushing for the change that people with dementia need, visit dementiauk.org/campaigns.
