Aintree University Hospital shows support for Alzheimer Society Fix Dementia Care campaign.



Alzheimer’s Society and Aintree University Hospital held a Fix Dementia Care – Hospitals roundtable event on Monday 3 October to discuss the importance of good quality of care in hospitals across Merseyside.

With over 18,000 people living with dementia in Merseyside and on average people with dementia staying in hospital twice as long as other patients aged over 65 this event gave hospital staff and health care commissioners the opportunity to discuss the work that Aintree Hospital and other hospitals across Merseyside are doing to improve hospital care for people with dementia.

Rachel Yates, Stakeholder Relations Officer for Alzheimer’s Society in the North West said: “Alzheimer’s Society were delighted to be joined at this important event by someone affected by dementia talking about their experiences of hospital care, as well as a variety of contributions from colleagues from Wirral, Aintree, Whiston, and the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Hospitals.

‘We discussed some of the findings of the ‘Fix Dementia Care’ campaign that through 2016 has been looking at the quality of care that people with dementia receive in a variety of care settings. The meeting was an opportunity for hospitals to explore existing challenges and make a commitment to sharing best practise.”

Alzheimer’s Society’s Fix Dementia Care report launched earlier this year with a report on the state of dementia care in hospitals. In addition to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, an Alzheimer’s Society’s survey of people affected by dementia found that 92% of respondents thought hospitals are frightening places for people with dementia.

Meanwhile over half (57%) said they felt people with dementia were not treated with understanding and dignity in hospital. Only 2% reported that, in their experience, all hospital staff understood the specific needs of people with dementia. The report called for supporters to join our call for NHS Chief Executive Simon Stevens to ensure that all hospitals publish an annual dementia statement on the quality of dementia care.

Jane Green, Aintree’s Lead Nurse for Older People and Dementia, said: “This very positive summit gave a chance for clinicians from across the region to share their work in helping support patients and their families. We have some really pioneering projects making a real difference to people’s lives. Dementia is a growing issue, so events like this are very important, and it was good to see it go so well.”

Steve Green Operations Manager for Merseyside at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “This roundtable was a really good opportunity for hospitals in Merseyside to discuss best practise and the challenges they face.

‘Good dementia care should never be a throw of the dice – yet people are forced to gamble with their health every time they are admitted to hospital.
‘Hospitals have a duty to be transparent and accountable to their patients, and to continually monitor and improve dementia care. While there are notable examples of excellent care across the country, the difference from one hospital to the next is far too great and there is inconsistent understanding of the needs of people with dementia.”

Over the course of 2016, Fix Dementia Care will look at the quality of care people with dementia receive in three key care settings: in hospital, in care homes and in the home. For more information please go to www.alzheimers.org.uk/fixhospitalcare

If you have any concerns about dementia, please call our helpline on 0300 222 11 22 or visit alzheimers.org.uk