How well do we care for dementia victims in Norwich?

Ambassador for the Alzheimer's Society, Angela Rippon OBE outside King's Fund in London.

18 November 2009 06:35



People with dementia are spending too long in hospital, according to an influential report released today. Sarah Hall looks at whether we are doing enough for elderly people with dementia.

According to the Alzheimer's Society there are “scandalous” variations in standards of care for dementia patients in the region. They occupy a quarter of all hospital beds and often through poor care, stay far longer in hospital than people without the condition who are admitted for the same treatment.

The society is calling for hospitals in the area to reduce the average length of stay for a person with dementia by at least a week, while taking immediate steps to improve the quality of care.

Paul Dunnery, Alzheimer's Society area manager for East Anglia, said the NHS could save at least £80 million a year if people with dementia are allowed to leave hospital one week earlier and said staying longer can have an adverse affect on people's health.

He said: “The length of stay in hospital must be reduced if we are to stop the alarming deterioration in health and lessen the chance of people being discharged to a care home, often at further expense to their primary care trust.

“Some vast improvements in care can be made quickly and at low cost if medical professionals are equipped with an understanding of dementia and willing to change their approach.”

In Norfolk it is estimated there are 13,000 people with dementia but this could double by 2020. Most are over the age of 65 and with the number of elderly people increasing this number could rise even more.

Norman Lamb said: “There are certainly a disproportionate number of dementia patients in hospital in Norfolk and the UK. There is a general feeling that some staff are not equipped to deal with them so they can get abandoned.

“In no way is this right and I am pleased it is being addressed by the Alzheimer's Society. There needs to be a plan in place to ensure dementia patients are released from hospital when the time is right and not kept a minute longer.”

Katherine Murphy, director of the Patients' Association, said the news confirmed fears of a failure in the hospital care of elderly patients. She said: “Whether it is dementia, a stroke or a broken hip that brings them into hospital, elderly patients and their relatives face the very real fear that their care will be sub-standard. The findings in this report are scandalous. There is now an overwhelming amount of evidence that elderly patients are being neglected in hospitals across the NHS.”

A dementia strategy is currently in place in Norfolk and people have been promised more help at home, in hospitals and in care homes.

A major new strategy focuses on early diagnosis, support for carers, and better care in care homes and hospitals for people with dementia and health bosses said this will start to make a difference to people with dementia and their families.

Public consultation is due to start later this month, with the first improvements scheduled to happen next year and continuing for three years.

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