A KIND-HEARTED MP is supporting Alzheimer’s Society’s new campaign Fix Dementia Care to call for improvements in hospital care for people living with dementia.
An Alzheimer’s Society investigation found 28 per cent of people over the age of 65 who fell in hospital had dementia – but this rose to 71 per cent in the worst performing hospital trust.
In 68 trusts that responded to their FOI, 4,926 people with dementia were discharged between the hours of 11pm and 6am during 2014/15.
And in the worst performing hospitals, people with dementia were found to be staying five to seven times longer than other patients over the age of 65.
Now, Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, who is the only MP trained as a Dementia Friends Champion, is backing the society’s campaign for improvements.
She said: “Good hospital care for people with dementia should never be a throw of the dice yet in some hospitals people are routinely experiencing the consequences of poor care.
“That’s why I’m backing Alzheimer’s Society’s Fix Dementia Care campaign to end the postcode lottery on the quality of hospital care people with dementia face.
“The first step to improving the issue across the country is greater transparency. Once we know where the shortcomings are we can take steps to tackle them.”
George McNamara, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Alzheimer’s Society said: “We must put a stop to the culture where it’s easier to find out about your local hospital finances than the quality of care you’ll receive if you have dementia.
“We are encouraging everyone to get behind our campaign to improve transparency and raise the bar on quality. Poor care can have devastating, life-changing consequences.”
The campaign is recommending all hospitals publish an annual statement of dementia care, which includes feedback from patients with dementia, and regulators, Monitor and the Care Quality Commission include standards of dementia care in their assessments.
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At the launch of the campaign, Mrs Abrahams met actor Kevin Whately, whose mother died with dementia in July 2009.
He became a supporter of the society after starring in ‘Dad’ in 2005 as the drama followed a family’s struggle to cope with the impact on the whole family of a diagnosis of dementia.
Now an ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society, Kevin raises awareness of their work, including supporting campaigns for unrestricted drug treatments for people in the early and late stages of Alzheimer’s.
At the Fix Dementia Care launch event Kevin said: “I know how devastating Alzheimer’s, and any form of dementia, is for the person diagnosed and their families.
“If I can help in anyway to champion the rights of those affected, I’m only too happy to lend my support.”
Kevin’s mother Mary was admitted to hospital in 2005 for an emergency operation to remove gallstones but she contracted MRSA and became seriously ill for many weeks.
In this time her dementia deteriorated rapidly and she was unable to eat and never able to walk again. She died aged 82 in July 2009.
Kevin said: “Mum was a very sharp, intelligent lady and she fought to maintain her independence.
“Although she’d been diagnosed eight years prior to the hospital stay, this was a huge turning point. It was the beginning of the end.
“Hospital managers need to know about the kind of care people with dementia receive and should be held to account when things go wrong.”
Alzheimer’s Society is the UK’s leading support and research charity for people with dementia, their families and carers. To find out more visit www.alzheimers.org.uk
Back the Fix Dementia Care campaign by signing up at: www.alzheimers.org.uk/fixhospitalcare
