The National Clinical Directors for Dementia and Older People have written to SHAs to draw their attention to the interim findings of the national audit of dementia care in general hospitals, undertaken by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

The National Clinical Directors stressed that the report presents an excellent opportunity to highlight areas where care for people with dementia can be improved. The issue of dementia care was discussed with SHA Chief
Executives in November by the SHA National Dementia Champion, Sir Ian Carruthers.

The National Clinical Directors will travel the country to meet with SHA representatives in each region to discuss how to make best use of the results in raising the profile of and standards of dementia care in hospitals. This will also provide an opportunity to look, across the board at the quality of care for people with dementia in line with our other priorities of reducing anti-psychotic prescribing, early diagnosis and dementia care in care homes.