Improvements to diagnosis of dementia in Devon shortlisted for national award

Devon’s NHS has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award thanks to improvements it has made to dementia care in the county.

The local NHS, which includes Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, will find out if it has won a Care Integration Award at a ceremony in London on Tuesday 9 July 2013.

The nomination is for the development of a dementia care pathway that has already reduced the waiting times for specialist dementia diagnosis and memory assessment, and has improved awareness of the benefits of diagnosis at an early stage by the patients’ GP.

It means people with dementia are diagnosed more quickly and get more comprehensive care and treatment with GPs and other healthcare professionals able to provide care and treatment that meets their individual needs up until their end of life.

The pathway has also improved the way dementia services are commissioning by Devon’s two new clinical commissioning groups, and has reduced inequalities by identifying areas of the county that might have gaps in service.

Dr Nick Cartmell, a GP from Ashburton who led the work, said:

“We are very proud to have been nominated for this award and hope our work will be useful to CCGs in other areas of the country.

“We first developed the pathway at a stakeholder event in late 2010. It involved doctors, people with dementia and their carers, healthcare professionals and other voluntary sector organisations who were all asked to think about how they see an ideal dementia care pathway.

“Following the event we developed ways that GPs and practice staff could be better supported to improve care of people with dementia, as well as how we could better identify those with dementia.

“Patients played a significant role in developing the pathway because we want to make sure they are fully involved in the commissioning and structure of services into the future. We will make sure the pathway is accessible to patients and carers in the future.”