Hospitals need to ‘rethink’ how they provide dementia care

The report, Acute awareness: Improving hospital care for people with dementia, highlights the changes that can be made to improve the quality of care patients receive in acute hospitals without large additional costs.

'It's encouraging that the NHS Confederation recognises the need to improve dementia care in hospitals. People with dementia occupy up to a quarter of hospital beds, at huge financial cost to the NHS. Alzheimer's Society research found that many people with dementia are receiving poor quality care and staying far longer in hospital than those without the condition. This report supports our calls for a dementia lead in each hospital and for hospitals to improve dementia training for their staff.

'Alzheimer's Society's Counting the Cost report found that at least £80 million a year could be saved if people with dementia are enabled to leave hospital one week earlier. These cost savings should be reinvested in workforce development and more appropriate care in the community. A million more people will develop dementia in the next ten years. We need the NHS to act on this advice to deliver better care at a more manageable cost.'

Andrew Chidgey
Head of Policy and Public Affairs
Alzheimer's Society

Ends

Notes to editors

• One in three people over 65 will die with dementia
• Alzheimer's Society research shows that 700,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia, more than half have Alzheimer's disease. In less than 20 years nearly a million people will be living with dementia. This will soar to 1.7 million people by 2051.
• Alzheimer's Society champions the rights of people living with dementia and the millions of people who care for them. 
  
• Alzheimer's Society works in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Alzheimer's Society needs to raise money to help people live well with dementia today and for research to find a cure for tomorrow. You can donate now by calling 0845 306 0898 or visiting alzheimers.org.uk
  
• Alzheimer's Society provides a National Dementia Helpline, the number is 0845 300 0336 or visit alzheimers.org.uk