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| Dementia patient care criticised | Dementia patient care criticised |
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| Hospital stays for people with dementia are far longer than for patients being treated for the same injury or illness but without dementia, it is claimed. | Hospital stays for people with dementia are far longer than for patients being treated for the same injury or illness but without dementia, it is claimed. |
| The Alzheimer's Society says patients with dementia occupy a quarter of hospital beds and the majority leave in a worse state than when they arrive. | The Alzheimer's Society says patients with dementia occupy a quarter of hospital beds and the majority leave in a worse state than when they arrive. |
| It wants their stays cut by a week, saying it will save millions of pounds. | It wants their stays cut by a week, saying it will save millions of pounds. |
| The government said it had already asked NHS hospitals to take urgent action on this issue. | The government said it had already asked NHS hospitals to take urgent action on this issue. |
| The Alzheimer's Society blames longer stays on a lack of communication, which can exacerbate problems associated with dementia, such as incontinence. | The Alzheimer's Society blames longer stays on a lack of communication, which can exacerbate problems associated with dementia, such as incontinence. |
| It says there is a need for better clinical leadership, training of nurses to deal with dementia patients and better co-ordination of support services to allow the patient to come out of hospital. | It says there is a need for better clinical leadership, training of nurses to deal with dementia patients and better co-ordination of support services to allow the patient to come out of hospital. |
| 'Challenging work' | 'Challenging work' |
| The Alzheimer's Society questioned 1,300 carers who looked after dementia patients and 1,100 nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. | The Alzheimer's Society questioned 1,300 carers who looked after dementia patients and 1,100 nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. |
| Alzheimer's Scotland said the situation there was not dissimilar. | Alzheimer's Scotland said the situation there was not dissimilar. |
| CASE STUDY Ann Reid's mother, Peggy Belcher, was confused and frightened in hospitalNurses left sign saying: 'You are not well, you need to stay in hospital. Just sit there, rest, relax and don't bang the table'Ms Reid's mother did not have reading glasses with her nor could she remember anything for more than two seconds | CASE STUDY Ann Reid's mother, Peggy Belcher, was confused and frightened in hospitalNurses left sign saying: 'You are not well, you need to stay in hospital. Just sit there, rest, relax and don't bang the table'Ms Reid's mother did not have reading glasses with her nor could she remember anything for more than two seconds |
| The main reasons for a hospital stay were falls, broken hips or hip replacements, urine infections, chest infections and strokes. | The main reasons for a hospital stay were falls, broken hips or hip replacements, urine infections, chest infections and strokes. |
| The average length of a hospital stay is about a week but more than half (57%) of dementia patients with a broken or fractured hip stayed two weeks or more. | The average length of a hospital stay is about a week but more than half (57%) of dementia patients with a broken or fractured hip stayed two weeks or more. |
| For urinary tract infections more than half (53%) stayed two weeks or more. | For urinary tract infections more than half (53%) stayed two weeks or more. |
| Nearly half of the carers (47%) said being in hospital had a significantly negative effect on the general physical health of the person with dementia. | Nearly half of the carers (47%) said being in hospital had a significantly negative effect on the general physical health of the person with dementia. |
| And more than half (54%) said being in hospital had made the symptoms of dementia worse. | And more than half (54%) said being in hospital had made the symptoms of dementia worse. |
| Most of the nurses (89%) said they found working with people with dementia challenging and 80% said they wanted more access to specialist advice. | Most of the nurses (89%) said they found working with people with dementia challenging and 80% said they wanted more access to specialist advice. |
| The society said most of the hundreds of millions of pounds currently spent on dementia in hospitals could be more effectively invested in workforce development and community services outside the hospital. | The society said most of the hundreds of millions of pounds currently spent on dementia in hospitals could be more effectively invested in workforce development and community services outside the hospital. |
| Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, said: "It is shocking that people with dementia are occupying up to a quarter of hospital beds yet there are scandalous variations in the quality of dementia care in hospitals. | Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, said: "It is shocking that people with dementia are occupying up to a quarter of hospital beds yet there are scandalous variations in the quality of dementia care in hospitals. |
| Some people with dementia are not able to eat or drink due to a lack of appropriate dementia care and many are not being treated with dignity and respect Angela Rippon, Alzheimer's Society ambassador | Some people with dementia are not able to eat or drink due to a lack of appropriate dementia care and many are not being treated with dignity and respect Angela Rippon, Alzheimer's Society ambassador |
| "At least £80m a year and probably hundreds of millions could be saved if people with dementia are enabled to leave the hospital one week earlier." | "At least £80m a year and probably hundreds of millions could be saved if people with dementia are enabled to leave the hospital one week earlier." |
| Angela Rippon, ambassador for the society, said she had personal experience of what can happen when a person with dementia has to be admitted to hospital. | Angela Rippon, ambassador for the society, said she had personal experience of what can happen when a person with dementia has to be admitted to hospital. |
| "It was awful watching my mother so vulnerable and frightened in this strange, noisy environment full of people she didn't know," she said. | "It was awful watching my mother so vulnerable and frightened in this strange, noisy environment full of people she didn't know," she said. |
| "Some people with dementia are not able to eat or drink due to a lack of appropriate dementia care and many are not being treated with dignity and respect. | "Some people with dementia are not able to eat or drink due to a lack of appropriate dementia care and many are not being treated with dignity and respect. |
| "But this important study shows us that staff want to be empowered to deliver good quality care." | "But this important study shows us that staff want to be empowered to deliver good quality care." |
| The Patients' Association said it was a "sad indictment" of the priority our society gives to elderly people. | The Patients' Association said it was a "sad indictment" of the priority our society gives to elderly people. |
| "There is now an overwhelming amount of evidence that elderly patients are being neglected in hospitals across the NHS. | "There is now an overwhelming amount of evidence that elderly patients are being neglected in hospitals across the NHS. |
| "Whether they have dementia or not, if they are in need of help with personal care many of them won't get it. Time after time the issue is raised, but the problems continue." | "Whether they have dementia or not, if they are in need of help with personal care many of them won't get it. Time after time the issue is raised, but the problems continue." |
| 'Proper training' | 'Proper training' |
| Care Services Minister Phil Hope said the national dementia strategy published earlier this year had launched a major programme of work to benefit people with dementia across the NHS. | Care Services Minister Phil Hope said the national dementia strategy published earlier this year had launched a major programme of work to benefit people with dementia across the NHS. |
| However, he said the report was a reminder of the scale of work that still needs to be done. | However, he said the report was a reminder of the scale of work that still needs to be done. |
| "We have set priority areas for all hospitals to take urgent action, including appointing a senior member of staff to improve quality of care for people with dementia, proper training for all staff, and specialist older people's mental health teams working in hospitals. | "We have set priority areas for all hospitals to take urgent action, including appointing a senior member of staff to improve quality of care for people with dementia, proper training for all staff, and specialist older people's mental health teams working in hospitals. |
| He said the dementia strategy was backed with "substantial funding" and a national clinical director for dementia was being appointed. | He said the dementia strategy was backed with "substantial funding" and a national clinical director for dementia was being appointed. |
| "We expect to see urgent improvements so people with dementia and their carers get the best care the NHS has to offer no matter where they are or what treatment they need," he added. | "We expect to see urgent improvements so people with dementia and their carers get the best care the NHS has to offer no matter where they are or what treatment they need," he added. |
| Do you care for someone with dementia? Have they experienced good hospital care? What do you think of the proposal to shorten hospital stays? Send us your comments. | |
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