Agenda item

To receive an update on progress following the Dementia Services Review.

The Head of Service (Mental Health & Learning Disabilities) Dorset CCG introduced and presented the report. The main points were as follows:

·       The Dementia Services Review was implementation from 1 April 2021, however faced great challenge throughout the pandemic.

·       There was a changing diagnostic model with increased capacity that was central to the memory assessment service. This required the introduction of a multi skilled approach that would involve advance care and nurse practitioners. Less complex cases would also go through this process with medical psychiatrist input as well.

·       In the post-diagnostic area, a diagnostic coordinator role had been commissioned. This role was embedded into the primary care service and would specifically follow people from diagnoses to their end of life, monitoring their changing levels of need.

·       Throughout the process there had been ‘memory road shows’ provided.

·       Referrals to the service had plateaued in recent months. This would be monitored going forward.

·       A main aim for the BCP area was to hit the national diagnostic rate of 67% of primary care registers.

·       As part of the covid recovery, the service had been given temporary funding and through this the service was trying to recruit additional employees to catch up on the backlog of referrals. There were challenges in recruiting, but the service now had a full-time medical officer that could provide up to 50 slots a week. It was hoped that this would reduce waiting times.

·       Overall evaluation of the entire model would take place after it had been implemented and working for some time. The key metrics of waiting times, diagnostic rates and the experiences of carers and service users would all be factored into the evaluation. This information should be available at the beginning of the next financial year.

The Committee asked several questions following the report. Answers were provided by the Head of Service (Mental Health & Learning Disabilities) Dorset CCG:

·       The committee heard that the service would not see student nurses providing diagnoses as this was a skilled activity, however students could observe assessments as these were undertaken by advance care nurses/practitioners and psychiatrists.

·       Members were informed that the average waiting time for a diagnosis was 16 weeks. This was identified as a prime challenge and the aim was to get this down to 6 weeks with the new full-time medic in place. Interim measures for those waiting for a diagnosis are memory roadshows and carers workshops with dementia coordinators working in primary care. This amount of advice and guidance was to keep communication channels up for people whilst they are waiting for a diagnosis.

·       On the issue of referrals from GPs, members heard that there was now better connectivity between the memory assessment service and the primary care network and GPs.

·       Members heard that within the community dementia service, emphasis was on early intervention in order to prevent people ending up in crisis and potentially hospital admission. The Dementia Coordinator, with support of the intensive support team, works with families to manage positive behaviour and any changes to medication. The intensive support team will only be present during a crisis, the ‘step down’ is when the crisis is over.

·       On the matter of memory roadshows, members heard that the roadshows act as a part of the Dementia Coordinators’ offer and would help raise awareness of what memory problems are, provide information on memory exercises to aid prevention and publicise all the support options available.

RESOLVED that the Committee noted the report.

Voting: Unanimous