Agenda item

The Committee will receive a report with an overview of the work undertaken to support the National Dementia Strategy (NDS) and Priority 2 of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy – Improved identification and support for people with dementia.

The Committee are asked to note the progress of the implementation of the Council’s dementia services.

The Committee received a report on the Dementia Strategy for Havering.  Members were informed that dementia was high on the agenda for the Health and Wellbeing Board.  Dementia is a very high priority, both nationally and locally.  A document published by the Department of Health (Living well with dementia: A National Dementia Strategy) set out 17 objectives which should result in significant improvement in the quality of services provided to people with dementia and should promote a greater understanding of the causes and consequences of dementia.

A Dementia Partnership Board had been established in November 2012 and met monthly.  The Board was made up of representatives from Social Care and Health Partners.  The Board was working together to deliver the strategy following four overarching objectives, which were agreed by the shadow Health and Wellbeing Board:

·         De-stigmatise dementia and ensuring sufferers and their carers receive the best possible support in managing their condition.

·         Ensure high quality and accessible dementia information.

·         Clinically train professionals to recognise the symptoms of dementia leading to earlier diagnosis and improved outcomes for sufferers and their carers.

·         Deliver more universal services and better quality of care for people with dementia

The Committee noted that to support achievement of these objectives, specific actions had been included within the Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

Officers explained the different actions necessary to deliver the objectives including the use of “Skyguard” key fobs that were being piloted by clients with low level or early onset dementia, and this linked with objective one. The key fobs included a small GPS system should the client go out of a specified area. 

The Committee discussed about the use of St George’s Hospital Site and the Older Persons Centre of Excellence being placed upon the site.  The Committee felt that this was a future aspiration and would therefore need a short term solution for dementia care.  Officers stated that the care pathways were being reviewed which should provide a good starting point of the current situation.

The Committee noted that there had been a number of compliments received by the services.  The Alzheimers map had shown 35% with a formal diagnosis previously, due to the various support and information groups this had risen to 50% with a formal diagnosis.  This was due to both national and local publicity.

Officers informed the Committee that a review of all services would take place in May.

The Committee was impressed with how the information was being taken out into the community.  Officers explained that they were going to where people lived, and therefore had delivered information and advice at shopping centres, libraries, Queens and King George’s Hospital, as well as local group meetings.

The Director of Public Health explained that dementia was more about prevention through exercise, brain activity and reduction of alcohol.  There were online screening that could be carried out by the individual as dementia could present in a number of different ways.  The service was now pushing back to make earlier diagnosis.  This identifies a large number of clients which puts pressure on the service however the needs of individuals had to be met.

The Committee thanked the officers for a very detailed update.