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Nwicker60
07-Jun-12, 10:58
NHS Highland get update on progress to improve standards of care in Scotland

THIS week the Board of NHS Highland got an update on progress to improve standards of care for dementia across the Highland Council area.
One year ago (June 2011) the Scottish Government published Standards of Care for Dementia in Scotland . This highlighted the importance of doing more to support people remain in their own home for as long as it is safe to do so.
Based on the National Standards, together with local user and carer feed-back, improvements in Highland are being focussed on three main areas

clearer routes of support for people with dementia, their carers and staff
more services to support people be in their own home or more locally
quicker access to specialist hospital care and advice when required.
The work is being progressed though a partnership approach including Alzheimer’s Scotland ,Age Concern, Scottish Health Council and other local groups.
Directors of Operations Nigel Small (South and Mid) and Gill McVicar (North and West) highlighted some of the work underway including the recruitment by Alzheimer Scotland of three Dementia Link Workers, covering Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey. Four more are due to be recruited to cover other areas in Highland alongside additional resources for post diagnostic support through services in Caithness . Working alongside Community Mental Health Services and others they will provide 12 month post diagnostic support to families.
As part of National Dementia Champion Programme 15 staff in Highland are now undertaking special training, and later this month it is intended to have aNurse Consultant for dementia in post.This is a new position and is initially jointly funded by Alzheimer Scotland and the Scottish Government. The post holder will provide professional nursing leadership and expertise. There is already a well developed education and training programme in place to raise awareness around dementia with staff.
Ann Pascoe, a Carer from Sutherland, said: “I am greatly encouraged by all the work that is happening and it is comforting to see carers voice being heard. No-one should ever have to walk this lonely dementia journey alone and with early diagnosis and early carer support a dementia family can learn their lives don’t have to stop or go on hold; they simply have to take a different route. We need to continue with a relentless pursuit to raise the profile of dementia.”
GPs are also doing improved forward planning for people with dementia with an initial focus on care homes. This will include specialist review visits by one of NHS Highland’s Care of the Elderly, Consultant Physician. This approach has proven to be very successful to support people stay independent at home or more locally for longer. The use of consultant led tele-health to support to staff looking after patients in a care home in Ballachulish has evaluated very positively. This has already started to reduce admissions into New Craigs.
Dr Ian Scott, Clinical Director for the South and Mid Operational Unit, said: “Getting an early diagnosis of dementia is very important as there are many more things now that can be done to help. But often people don’t realise this and don’t seek help.
“Equally we need to do more to raise awareness so that more people can spot where help might be required. We also need to do more to support our GPs, so that they are fully aware of the various services and support that are available. This includes things likememory assessment services, social day care and increased use of assisted living technology.”
The Board also heard the review recommended that specialist hospital dementia beds required across the Northern Highland was 48. This is higher than the current use (on average 40 patients are in specialist beds on any given day).
One Unit has been temporarily closed since November 2011 and other units have been operating with reduced bed numbers. The recent integration of adult health and social care adds further potential for developing services and support for people at home and within a care home setting.
Commenting on the progress being made Maxine Johnstone, Regional Manager for Alzheimer Scotland , said: “We are pleased to be working with the Highland Health and Social Care Partnership, as well as other agencies, to involve people with dementia, and family carers, to improve the support available to them in the community.
“Better support after diagnosis is a key priority of the National Dementia Strategy and we are delighted that people in Highland will now benefit from the new link worker posts. We are also very pleased to be jointly funding the new Dementia Nurse post with the Scottish Government. This will further improve the experience when people with dementia go into hospital.”
These initiatives form part of a five year plan to take NHS Highland up to 2016 when a further review will be required.
Ends