"Memory clinics to spot dementia"
- Thread starter jenniferpa
- Start date
Dementia Care Plans
Just seen this:-
A plan aimed at tackling England's growing burden of dementia has been launched by the Government.
Dementia care plans unveiled Health Secretary Alan Johnson and care services minister Phil Hope unveiled the National Dementia Strategy, which is aimed at improving diagnosis and treatment while saving almost £1 billion over the next decade.
A senior clinician in every hospital and care home in England will be made responsible for ensuring the needs of dementia sufferers are met.
GPs are to be specially trained to spot the early signs of dementia and memory clinics will be set up in every town and city to provide rapid diagnosis by specialist staff.
New "dementia advisers" will also be appointed to work with families to help them navigate the services on offer. But a review of the use of anti-psychotic drugs - one of the most controversial aspects of caring for people with dementia in care homes - will not be published until the spring.
There are currently around 570,000 people in England with dementia but the figure is rising as people live longer. The current cost to the UK economy of dementia is around £17 billion but this is set to rise to more than £50 billion a year as the number of sufferers doubles to 1.4 million.
The strategy, which is backed by £150 million over the first two years, sets out how the lives of carers can be improved and says community services should be strengthened.
Mr Hope said the strategy offered a "double win" in that it would improve services for dementia sufferers while saving money in the long-term because people would be able to stay in their own homes for longer.
Offering greater support and more community-based services would lead to a delay in admitting people to "expensive residential care homes". He added: "Early diagnosis means early intervention. This early diagnosis and intervention means people will be able to stay longer in their own homes."
Mr Johnson said there was a need to tackle the "stigma" associated with dementia and increase public awareness of the disease. "This needs to come out of the dark and the shadows," he added, calling the strategy a "landmark document" that "will transform the quality of dementia care".
Just seen this:-
A plan aimed at tackling England's growing burden of dementia has been launched by the Government.
Dementia care plans unveiled Health Secretary Alan Johnson and care services minister Phil Hope unveiled the National Dementia Strategy, which is aimed at improving diagnosis and treatment while saving almost £1 billion over the next decade.
A senior clinician in every hospital and care home in England will be made responsible for ensuring the needs of dementia sufferers are met.
GPs are to be specially trained to spot the early signs of dementia and memory clinics will be set up in every town and city to provide rapid diagnosis by specialist staff.
New "dementia advisers" will also be appointed to work with families to help them navigate the services on offer. But a review of the use of anti-psychotic drugs - one of the most controversial aspects of caring for people with dementia in care homes - will not be published until the spring.
There are currently around 570,000 people in England with dementia but the figure is rising as people live longer. The current cost to the UK economy of dementia is around £17 billion but this is set to rise to more than £50 billion a year as the number of sufferers doubles to 1.4 million.
The strategy, which is backed by £150 million over the first two years, sets out how the lives of carers can be improved and says community services should be strengthened.
Mr Hope said the strategy offered a "double win" in that it would improve services for dementia sufferers while saving money in the long-term because people would be able to stay in their own homes for longer.
Offering greater support and more community-based services would lead to a delay in admitting people to "expensive residential care homes". He added: "Early diagnosis means early intervention. This early diagnosis and intervention means people will be able to stay longer in their own homes."
Mr Johnson said there was a need to tackle the "stigma" associated with dementia and increase public awareness of the disease. "This needs to come out of the dark and the shadows," he added, calling the strategy a "landmark document" that "will transform the quality of dementia care".
I have beem listing to the News on ITV,about . Seem its being aired on News all day which is good.
http://itn.co.uk/news/e64ddab6e51609f9d652e305856ebd14.html
Now that sounds interesting.
I never head ken on the BBC anyone got a link to it? .
Shame it was not left in the " News " part of TP , like the Terry Pratchett one the 4th January is .
http://itn.co.uk/news/e64ddab6e51609f9d652e305856ebd14.html
Now that sounds interesting.
I never head ken on the BBC anyone got a link to it? .
Shame it was not left in the " News " part of TP , like the Terry Pratchett one the 4th January is .
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I don't want to be cynical but....
What is the point of early detection if NICE regulations say that medications for early to moderate stages is not cost effective & won't prescribe the drugs?
What is the point of early detection if NICE regulations say that medications for early to moderate stages is not cost effective & won't prescribe the drugs?
I am hopeful that this is the thin edge of the wedge and that that will change. Mind you, that might be wishful thinking since it would be logical that it should, after pouring millions of pounds into early diagnosis, and when has logic had anything to do with it?
Here are a couple links to the Today programme
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_7866000/7866484.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_7866000/7866652.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_7866000/7866484.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_7866000/7866652.stm
Surely that has to be back-tracked now? The government can't launch a strategy like this surely and not allow themselves to ...???? (maybe don't answer that!!!
) I confess my only snippet of cynicism came as I writhed at the term 'Memory Clinic' - what I witnessed of Memory Clinics (and the MHS within the NHS service) will take some re-learning in comparison to what is proposed ....That small aside .... this feels like 'Breakthrough Day'?
That it is so high on the agenda ..... and high profile news ..... and with Terry Pratchett's high profile programmes coming up which will surely garner yet another audience - and especially for early onset - this really strikes a positive blow ..... I for one, (perhaps not best known for my optimism!!!) feel enthused by the news today ......
I confess it's not often I open a link (thanks for those Jennifer) and find myself giving a standing ovation at the PC!!!!
Karen
This is from the DOH (the actual strategy)
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/SocialCare/...lderpeople/NationalDementiaStrategy/index.htm
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/SocialCare/...lderpeople/NationalDementiaStrategy/index.htm
Hi Again,
One comments that many people keep raising is, why have early diagnosis when the medication is not available.
I did take this up with the Minister this morning at the press conference after the launch of the National Dementia Strategy, and he said that NICE is to reveiew its decision on issuing medication to those in the early stages and this will come out in the Spring of this year. We will just have to wait and hope that they see what they have done and then reverse their original decision, because there are too many people relying on this medication being made available to those in the early stages.
The strategy does not seem to have been changed in any way, since it was originaly written up and sent to the Government in September, and that has to be a very good thing for all.
To many people who worked on this document, like Janice and myself, it is the end on many months of very hard work to ensure that this stratgey works, for the sake of all with the illness along with their carers and families, who deserve a better standard and quality of life.
There is evidence that some PCTs have already set up memory clinics, so we hope that this will be rolled out across the rest of the country.
We have now seen this Strategy finally start today, so lets hope it succeeds for everyone with dementia and their carers.
Best Wishes
Ken
One comments that many people keep raising is, why have early diagnosis when the medication is not available.
I did take this up with the Minister this morning at the press conference after the launch of the National Dementia Strategy, and he said that NICE is to reveiew its decision on issuing medication to those in the early stages and this will come out in the Spring of this year. We will just have to wait and hope that they see what they have done and then reverse their original decision, because there are too many people relying on this medication being made available to those in the early stages.
The strategy does not seem to have been changed in any way, since it was originaly written up and sent to the Government in September, and that has to be a very good thing for all.
To many people who worked on this document, like Janice and myself, it is the end on many months of very hard work to ensure that this stratgey works, for the sake of all with the illness along with their carers and families, who deserve a better standard and quality of life.
There is evidence that some PCTs have already set up memory clinics, so we hope that this will be rolled out across the rest of the country.
We have now seen this Strategy finally start today, so lets hope it succeeds for everyone with dementia and their carers.
Best Wishes
Ken
Garland's picture - page 18 of Daily Telegraph (4 Feb)
Am I being too sensitive when I find this picture insensitive, even offensive?
I associate Garland as a cartoon creator and to me there is nothing remotely amusing about this picture.
Am I being too sensitive when I find this picture insensitive, even offensive?
I associate Garland as a cartoon creator and to me there is nothing remotely amusing about this picture.
The cartoon is at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/cartoon/
I don't like it and I really don't think it was well conceived.
I don't like it and I really don't think it was well conceived.
Yes, I winced at first ... even in caricature, that cartoon image could have been my mother ... and I am sure might have been far worse for many others .....
Forgive me, those who don't agree - but I think the cartoon is powerful - and not in a negative way. To quote from the 'As you like it' monologue ...... but to put it in the context of turning the spotlight onto the 'final stage' (Life stage as as opposed to dementia stages, although I guess Shakespeare knew a bit about mental health too!!!!!) encapsulates what has happened in the UK in having any strategy at all (I see it is already being 'downed' for its failings .......) and hit the news at last?????
Is this not simply about having 'end of life' - and end of life due to dementia - in the spotlight and coming out of the darkness at last!!!!!!!???????
Sorry, if that's naive .....
Karen
Forgive me, those who don't agree - but I think the cartoon is powerful - and not in a negative way. To quote from the 'As you like it' monologue ...... but to put it in the context of turning the spotlight onto the 'final stage' (Life stage as as opposed to dementia stages, although I guess Shakespeare knew a bit about mental health too!!!!!) encapsulates what has happened in the UK in having any strategy at all (I see it is already being 'downed' for its failings .......
) and hit the news at last????? Is this not simply about having 'end of life' - and end of life due to dementia - in the spotlight and coming out of the darkness at last!!!!!!!???????
Sorry, if that's naive .....
Karen
I keep looking at it and can't decide what I think about it. The shining a spotlight on dementia image is worthwhile, and I've been trying to think how you would portray dementia as a person. I think we've had enough of elderly ladies smiling contentedly if confusedly, but I can see that this portrayal might offend some. On balance, though, dementia isn't pretty so unless someone can come up with a personification that isn't overly sugary but is symbolic but non-offensive I have to put a tick in the "for" column (but only just).
I think it's important to note that cartoonists aren't always about being funny and I don't believe that there was any intention that this should be seen as such.
I think it's important to note that cartoonists aren't always about being funny and I don't believe that there was any intention that this should be seen as such.
Exits and Entrances; BUT NOT necessarily in that order
This is what I saw and heard, when I looked at the Cartoon and read aloud the caption, which reminded me of ... a lot:
http://quotations.about.com/cs/poemlyrics/a/Seven_Ages_Of_M.htm
And I felt strangely comforted to see the spotlight. At last. A spotlight on dementia. Which is the final age - or the final stage - for many.
That's what I saw when I looked at the Garland cartoon.
This is what I saw and heard, when I looked at the Cartoon and read aloud the caption, which reminded me of ... a lot:
http://quotations.about.com/cs/poemlyrics/a/Seven_Ages_Of_M.htm
And I felt strangely comforted to see the spotlight. At last. A spotlight on dementia. Which is the final age - or the final stage - for many.
That's what I saw when I looked at the Garland cartoon.
Yeah - I can see why you would say that. Perhaps dementia can't be personified? I suppose it's reasonable that not everything could be?
