A SEVEN-day NHS, and helping people live well with the dementia, will help make UK the most dementia friendly society in the world by 2020, according to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, the MP for South West Surrey.

Mr Hunt believes the Government’s new dementia implementation plan will empower people with dementia and their family through improved care and transparency. As part of the Government’s aim of building a higher-quality NHS for patients, with safer care throughout the week, the dementia implementation plan will make sure:–

nFor the first time, people with dementia and their families will benefit from greater transparency and will be able to compare the quality of dementia care in their local area

nThe Care Quality Commission will include standards of dementia care in their inspections to make sure services are safer for people with dementia seven days a week

nEvery person with dementia will receive a personalised care plan.

As part of plans to raise awareness of health concerns, a new pilot scheme will also extend NHS Health Checks which, for the first time, will include awareness raising, education and discussion of risk reduction for dementia for people aged 40 or older.

They are currently only available for over 65s.

Mr Hunt also believes the roll-out of seven-day services across the NHS will benefit dementia patients as it will help make sure they don’t stay in hospital longer than necessary. Currently, consultant hospital ward rounds vary across the week and around the country.

Under new plans:–

lAll patients in high dependency care will be seen and reviewed by a consultant twice a day, every day of the week by 2020

lIf clinically appropriate, all patients, including those with dementia, will be reviewed by a consultant in daily ward rounds, every day of the week by 2020.

Mr Hunt said: “A dementia diagnosis can bring fear and heartache, but I want Britain to be the best place in the world to live well with dementia. Last Parliament, we made massive strides on diagnosis rates and research – the global race is now on to find a cure for dementia and I want the UK to win it.

“This Parliament, I want us to make big progress on the quality of care and treatment. Hospitals can be frightening and confusing places for people with dementia, so our new plan will guarantee them safer seven day hospital care, as well as tackling unacceptable variations in quality across England through transparent Ofsted style ratings.”

The Health Secretary added the dementia implementation plan builds on national success including raising dementia diagnosis rates to their highest levels, doubling dementia research funding and getting more than one million people to become dementia friends.

In addition, leaders across the health, social care, local government and voluntary sector organisations have signed a joint declaration committing to improving care and support to people with dementia following diagnosis.

Health Minister Jane Ellison said of the declaration: “Dementia touches so many families but the quality of care people get after a diagnosis of dementia can vary across the country and this has to change.

“The implementation plan will tackle this head on and we will be working hard to make sure people with dementia, their families and carers get better support.”

“The Government has invested £150million to develop a national Dementia Research Institute to drive forward new treatments and help fulfil our goal to find a cure by 2025. This will be supported by our new aim for 10 per cent of all people diagnosed with dementia to take part in research.”

Alzheimer’s Society, chief executive Jeremy Hughes said: “We applaud the Government’s firm commitment to make the UK the most dementia-friendly place in the world.

“We look forward to leading the continued transformation of society and investment in research, so that by 2020 people with dementia get the support they need every day of the year – whether at home, in residential care, hospital or in the wider community.”

Alzheimer’s Research UK’s chief executive Hilary Evans said: “Since the first Prime Minister’s Dementia Challenge was launched we’ve seen real progress in the fight against this devastating condition, and the beginnings of a social movement to rally people behind that fight.

“There is still much work to do, and Alzheimer’s Research UK welcomes this plan which signals a strong commitment to build on the achievements of recent years. We look forward to working with the Government to deliver action on research and help accelerate the development of much-needed new treatments, preventions and improvements in diagnosis.”