More work needs to be done to help dementia patients and their carers – according to the boss of Dorset County Hospital.
Patricia Miller, the hospital’s chief executive, says there is a debate needed about whether national dementia standards are fit for purpose.
She told hospital governors this week that the hospital was only required to carry out a dementia assessment for over 75s, but everyone knew of cases emerging far earlier in life. She was responding to a question about dementia care, locally, from Bridport governor David Tett.
The hospital chief executive says that although DCH does perform well for those with dementia she says that many families fight against a dementia diagnosis – failing to understand that it can help unlock more specialist services which might be helpful. She said that a diagnosis at the earliest possible stage also helped ensure that support was in place for carers and that their needs were met as well.
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