Dementia Partnerships
Encouraging a new kind of leadership
This article describes an innovative programme in leadership skills provided in the final year of postgraduate medical training. Read more »
What's new
Map of Medicine for dementia management
The Map of Medicine for dementia assessment supports the management of people living with dementia. Read more »
Map of Medicine for dementia assessment
The Map of Medicine for dementia assessment supports the identification and diagnosis of people living with dementia. Read more »
'Real breakthrough' in Alzheimer's diagnosis
British scientists based at Maudsley Hospital have developed a highly-advanced computer programme that can pinpoint the very early stages of Alzheimer’s in a matter of hours rather than months. Read more »
Government campaign to raise awareness of the early signs and symptoms of dementia
The Government campaign is aimed at challenging misconceptions about the disease, targeting the family and friends of people at risk of dementia who are likely to be the first to see the signs and can encourage their loved one to see their GP. Read more »
No more age discrimination on the NHS
The NHS must never discriminate based on age – that was the message given by Care Services Minister Paul Burstow today as he announced that the Department of Health will not be seeking any exceptions to the planned implementation of the Equality Act 2010. Read more »
Drinking alcohol linked to decreased risk of dementia
Light to moderate alcohol consumption could decrease the risk of cognitive decline or dementia according to a study published in Age and Ageing today (Thursday 2 March 2011). Read more »
NICE Clinical guideline CG42 Dementia: supporting people with dementia and their carers in health and social care
This guideline makes specific recommendations on Alzheimer’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), fronto temporal dementia, vascular dementia and mixed dementias, as well as recommendations that apply to all types of dementia. Read more »
Partnership to fund dementia research, support and awareness
The partnership of Tesco, Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer Scotland, together plan to raise £5million to build a better future for people with dementia and help to raise diagnosis levels from just 40% by 2014. Read more »
Map of dementia prevalence and diagnosis rates
A new partnership between Tesco, Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer Scotland has for the first time mapped the state of dementia and diagnosis levels in the UK and announced bold plans to help fight the disease. Read more »
Living Life with Dementia
The aim of this guide is to show just some of the ways that local Age UKs and Age Concerns are making a difference to the lives of people living with dementia and their carers. Read more »
Alzheimer’s Research UK launches £1m partnership with Iceland Foods
The Charity of the Year Partnership for 2011 will boost research into early-onset dementia by at least £1million. Read more »
Exciting research into second most common form of dementia
A major study into why high blood pressure and strokes can cause brain damage that can lead to dementia was recently introduced by Dr Olivia Skrobot from the University of Bristol at a research roadshow hosted by Alzheimer’s Society. Read more »
NIHR issues a call for research on dementia
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is issuing a call for research on dementia which extends across the translational pathway, covering the fields of cause, cure and care, including prevention. Read more »
Improving the prescribing of antipsychotic drugs for people with dementia
Details of a letter from Sir Ian Carruthers, Chief Executive of NHS South West and Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Society, to SHA Chief Executives to invite them to adapt four recommendations to drive down inappropriate prescribing antipsychotic medication and providing alternative ways of working and interventions that improve the safety, quality of life and outcomes for people with dementia. Read more »
Reminiscence and life story work: A practice guide
This fully-updated fourth edition is full of practical information on planning and running successful reminiscence work. Read more »
Living well with dementia bulletin, issue 4, February 2011
This issue of the South West Dementia Partnership bulletin focusses on the South West Hospital Standards in Dementia Care, published in February 2011. Read more »
Care homes newsletter, issue 10, February 2011
Details on the February issue of the care homes newsletter from the National Dementia Strategy Implementation Team. This issue focuses on developing an informed and effective workforce for people with dementia living in care homes. Read more »
Brain Waves, issue 35
The February 2011 edition of the Brain Waves newsletter, produced by Innovations in Dementia, includes features on: Dementia capable communities; Promoting a positive view of dementia; Assistive technology; Involving people with dementia in research about complex needs. Read more »
Sixth UK Dementia Congress call for papers
The Journal of Dementia Care has announced the sixth UK Dementia Congress, to be held in Liverpool, UK on 1-3 November 2011. This provides details of the invitation to submit abstracts of proposed papers and posters, on any aspect of support, care and treatment for people with dementia, their families and care staff, in any service setting. Read more »
Transformational change in action
As the government’s healthcare reforms begin to take shape, the authour of this article stresses the importance of good leadership skills in improving productivity, quality and efficiency. Read more »
Essential knowledge updates – dementia
The Royal College of General Practitioners online learning environment contains e-learning courses and updates for general practice. Read more »
No Health without Mental Health
This strategy sets out six shared objectives to improve the mental health and well-being of the nation, and to improve outcomes for people with mental health problems through high quality services. Read more »
Commissioning pack for dementia news bulletin 2
Latest news on the development of the Commissioning Pack for dementia which aims to provide straightforward, practical guidance for commissioners. Read more »
Route map for sustainable health
The Route map for sustainable health, recently published by the NHS Sustainable Development Unit, describes a sustainable health system and the components that are needed to achieve it. Read more »
A co-productive health leadership model to support the liberation of the NHS
This paper argues the case for co-productive ‘Health Leadership’ that can meet the challenges set by the current Big Society agenda, Darzi and Wanless, so that we achieve a sustainable, high quality NHS, fit for the 21st century. Read more »
Moderate exercise boosts memory power
Recent reserach has shown that taking moderate exercise, such as Walking, for 40 minutes a few times a week is enough to preserve memory and keep ageing brains on top form. Read more »
ITV West to run features on dementia 7th-10th March
ITV West will be running four features on dementia from Monday 7th to Thursday 10th March during the pan-regional section of the news programme at around 6.15 pm. Read more »
Further scoping the Primary Care response to dementia: leading for improvement
Reports from the scoping event to inform the development and delivery of the regional programme, Primary Care response to dementia: leading for improvement. Read more »
General hospitals expert reference group
Alison Moon, regional champion for dementia care in hospitals, chaired a lively meeting of the South West general hospitals expert reference group in Taunton on Monday 24th January 2011. Read more »
Innovations in Dementia Brain Waves newsletter, issue 34
The January 2011 edition of the Brain Waves newsletter, produced by Innovations in Dementia, includes features on: Working with people with more advanced dementia; Talking about ‘end of life’; What makes a dementia capable community; Research trial. Read more »
Spiritual care at the end of life: a systematic review of the literature
This report sets out the findings of a literature review on spiritual care at the end of life conducted by the Universities of Hull, Staffordshire and Aberdeen. The review was commissioned to inform future work on spiritual care at the end of life, as part of the implementation of the End of Life Care Strategy.… Read more »
Insufficient care for people with dementia in their own homes
The report ‘Support. Stay. Save. Care and support of people with dementia in their own homes‘, from the Alzheimer’s Society reveals that many people with dementia and carers receive insufficient support and care at home. Part of the Society’s ongoing putting care right campaign, Support. Stay. Save presents findings from over 2,400 people with dementia,… Read more »
Proposed amendments made to the Mental Health Act
Amendments made to the Mental Health Act after the health and social care bill have been published. Read more »
Health and social care bill 2011
The health and social care bill was introduced into Parliament on 19 January 2011. Read more »
Engaging the public in delivering health improvement
This research briefing considers what active citizens can do for services and how services can best engage, support and sustain a community or volunteer workforce in order to improve health outcomes. It provides practical guidance on the steps that need to be taken to redesign services and maximise the long term benefits. This research briefing… Read more »
Arts for Emotional Wellbeing Club – Bristol
The Art Club aims too engage with the community through creative arts activities and improve their social inclusion and wellbeing. Participants are given the opportunity to express their thoughts through creative arts activities which enhances communication and eliminates the impact of language barrier. This act as a channel to identify hidden health issues which participants… Read more »
Interactive NHS atlas of variation in healthcare
Interactive atlas which presents maps of variation across a range of disease areas to help commissioners reduce unwarranted variation in healthcare. Read more »
Government announces boost for dementia research
Government funded research will prioritise dementia research from March 2011. Read more »
Care homes newsletter, issue 9, January 2011
Details on the January issue of the care homes newsletter from the National Dementia Strategy Implementation Team. This issue focuses on supporting families and carers of people with dementia living in care homes. Read more »
Living well with dementia – good practice compendium
This good practice compendium has been brought together from across the regions to support local delivery of the national dementia strategy and improve outcomes for people with dementia and their carers. It is an enabler for local change, as described in the Department of Health’s revised outcomes focused implementation plan. Download Living well with dementia… Read more »
QIPP National urgent care clinical dashboard
The QIPP urgent care clinical dashboard enables GP Practices to more pro-actively manage and co-ordinate patient’s healthcare, especially for the most vulnerable patients and those with long-term conditions. Read more »
Profiling the national audit of dementia care interim findings
The National Clinical Directors for Dementia and Older People have written to SHAs to draw their attention to the interrim findings of the national audit of dementia care in general hospitals, undertaken by the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Read more »
Feeling better? Improving patient experience in hospital
This report by the NHS Confederation explores improving patient experience in hospital. Read more »
Releasing time to care – the productive ward
The productive ward report focuses on improving ward processes and environments to help nurses and therapists spend more time on patient care thereby improving safety and efficiency. Read more »
A guide to outcome based social care
This guide aims to provide support on how to lead teams to adopt an outcomes-focused approach and deliver outcome based social care. Read more »
Lesley Benham and Angela Dupont made MBEs
Two women who have devoted themselves to improving health services in Dorset are among the recipients in the New Year Honours. Read more »
Dementia ward champion role developed at Musgrove Park Hospital
Defines the role and training requirements of the dementia ward champion, developed at Musgrove Park Hospital, part of Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. Read more »
Brain Waves, issue 33
The December 2010 edition of the Brain Waves newsletter, produced by Innovations in Dementia, includes features on: Involving people with dementia; Plans for 2011. Read more »
Implementing national priorities next steps
Sir Ian Carruthers, Chief Executive of NHS South West, recently wrote to South West Chief Executives and South West Directors of Adult Social Care outlining the next steps on implementing the four national priorities set out in Quality outcomes in dementia. Read more »