Prime minister's reply
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to provide dementia specialist nurse’s within all hospitals in the UK.”
Details of Petition:
“Dementia is one of the most significant health issues facing the UK and the NHS. As the population ages, the numbers of people diagnosed with dementiais increasing, and are expected to double to 1.4 million over the next 30 years. Currently there is a huge shortage of specialist dementia nurses within our hospitals, because of this many patients with dementia are not getting the proper care and understanding when placed in hospital causing not only themselves but their loved ones a great deal of distress. This is a growing problem and it wont get any better unless more funds are available and more training is given. We need more specialist dementia nurses within our hospitals. Thank you.”
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Read the Government’s response
On 3 February, Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Health, announced the publication of Living well with dementia: a National Dementia Strategy. The publication follows a consultation which drew on evidence from a wide range of reports and stakeholders, a series of listening events involving over 3,000 people and the recommendations of an external reference group.
The strategy is backed by £150million over the first two years. It will increase awareness of dementia, ensure early diagnosis and intervention and radically improve the quality of care that people with the condition receive. The full strategy is available on the Department of Health website at www.dh.gov.uk by typing ‘National Dementia Strategy’ into the search bar.
The National Dementia Strategy focuses particularly on the overall outcomes needed for those with dementia, and stresses the importance of all people with dementia and their carers getting the services they require. How those services are delivered is a matter for local determination. However, the Strategy also calls for more training to be made available for all staff providing care for people with dementia, and the Department will be working closely with all the training bodies to make sure that this is taken forward.
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The Department will be providing a nationwide regional support programme to work closely with the NHS and local authorities in implementing the strategy. We have recently appointed a team of deputy regional directors with backgrounds in health and social care to provide the local support needed to implement the strategy. Information will also be gathered by the Department to review the extent of current services, and to track these over time to monitor progress on implementation.
Ultimately, however, responsibility for local health services lies with the local NHS. It is now for Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in partnership with Strategic Health Authorities and other local stakeholders to plan, develop and improve services for local people. This includes the provision of specialist dementia nurses. We recognise that health services are better when management is devolved to the frontline. Within the framework set out in the NHS Plan, and other policy documents, PCTs with their specialised knowledge of the local community are able to effectively manage and improve local services.
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to provide dementia specialist nurse’s within all hospitals in the UK.”
Details of Petition:
“Dementia is one of the most significant health issues facing the UK and the NHS. As the population ages, the numbers of people diagnosed with dementiais increasing, and are expected to double to 1.4 million over the next 30 years. Currently there is a huge shortage of specialist dementia nurses within our hospitals, because of this many patients with dementia are not getting the proper care and understanding when placed in hospital causing not only themselves but their loved ones a great deal of distress. This is a growing problem and it wont get any better unless more funds are available and more training is given. We need more specialist dementia nurses within our hospitals. Thank you.”
=====================================================
Read the Government’s response
On 3 February, Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Health, announced the publication of Living well with dementia: a National Dementia Strategy. The publication follows a consultation which drew on evidence from a wide range of reports and stakeholders, a series of listening events involving over 3,000 people and the recommendations of an external reference group.
The strategy is backed by £150million over the first two years. It will increase awareness of dementia, ensure early diagnosis and intervention and radically improve the quality of care that people with the condition receive. The full strategy is available on the Department of Health website at www.dh.gov.uk by typing ‘National Dementia Strategy’ into the search bar.
The National Dementia Strategy focuses particularly on the overall outcomes needed for those with dementia, and stresses the importance of all people with dementia and their carers getting the services they require. How those services are delivered is a matter for local determination. However, the Strategy also calls for more training to be made available for all staff providing care for people with dementia, and the Department will be working closely with all the training bodies to make sure that this is taken forward.
�
The Department will be providing a nationwide regional support programme to work closely with the NHS and local authorities in implementing the strategy. We have recently appointed a team of deputy regional directors with backgrounds in health and social care to provide the local support needed to implement the strategy. Information will also be gathered by the Department to review the extent of current services, and to track these over time to monitor progress on implementation.
Ultimately, however, responsibility for local health services lies with the local NHS. It is now for Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in partnership with Strategic Health Authorities and other local stakeholders to plan, develop and improve services for local people. This includes the provision of specialist dementia nurses. We recognise that health services are better when management is devolved to the frontline. Within the framework set out in the NHS Plan, and other policy documents, PCTs with their specialised knowledge of the local community are able to effectively manage and improve local services.
