Agenda item

(Mr M Thomas-Sam, Head of Policy & Service Development, and Ms E Hanson, Policy Manager, were in attendance for this item)

1)         Mr Leidecker introduced the report and emphasised the provisions for dementia that KASS was already delivering as a background to the publication of the new National Dementia Strategy (NDS).  Mr Thomas-Sam added that the NDS and work involved in implementing its objectives would not stand alone but would link closely to the KCC’s Strategies for Carers, Housing and End of Life Care.  The NDS was accompanied by £150 million investment in the first three years of its implementation, although, historically, dementia had received 8 times less government funding than cancer, coronary heart disease and stroke.  It was not known how much of the £150 million would be allocated to KASS and how much to the NHS.  Ms Hanson pointed out that a dementia JSNA had recently been completed across Kent. 

2)         In discussion, and in response to Members’ questions, the following points were highlighted:-

(a)   Members warmly welcomed the publication of the National Dementia Strategy and endorsed the objectives which arose from it and the government funding which went with it;

(b)   Objective Two of the NDS encouraged people to seek early diagnosis of dementia from their GP, but research showed people tended to delay seeking a diagnosis.  Across Kent, the NHS Map of Medicine, which is a health services diagnostic tool, is being introduced to ensure that GPs follow the same set of diagnostic tests before referring people on to secondary health services for formal diagnosis of dementia.  It is hoped that this will ensure a more consistent approach to the diagnosis of dementia.  It is not uncommon currently that dementia could take three to five years to identify and diagnose fully;

(c)   Members supported Objective 3 of the NDS and added the need for information to be user-friendly, avoid jargon and be particularly accessible to clients from BME communities whose first language was not English;

(d)   Although not exclusively a disease of old age, the likelihood of developing dementia increased with age.  A Dementia UK report in 2007 had identified that, for every 5 years of a person’s age, their chances of developing dementia doubled.  By 85+, people will  have roughly a 30% chance of developing it;

(e)   It was also known, however, that the same health messages for coronary heart disease could also apply to reducing the risk of some types of dementia.  “What is good for your heart is good for your head”.  KASS fully supported work with the PCT and the public health unit to address the prevention agenda;

(f)     Although much work was in place to deliver services to people with dementia, there was still much to do.  The JSNA had identified a 43% increase in dementia in East Kent and a 50% increase in West Kent, within the next 15 years, due to the ageing population.  The ideal was that all services should be sensitive to the needs of people with dementia; and

(g)   People with dementia in general hospitals were more likely to stay longer there for routine procedures and were more likely to go into long term care homes upon leaving hospital.

3)         RESOLVED that the information in the report and given in response to questions from Members be noted, with thanks.