AQW 15508/22-27
Mr Alan Robinson
Democratic Unionist Party
East Londonderry
Tabled Date: 23/09/2024
Answered On Date: 08/10/2024
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail the action his Department is taking to (i) improve the diagnosis; and (ii) raise awareness of Alzheimer's disease.
Answer:
(i) The Department recognises the urgency with which individuals awaiting assessment will wish to be seen in order to understand their condition and to commence treatment. The Department has issued a 9-week target which sets out that people should have a first assessment following referral into Health and Social Care Trust memory services within 9 weeks. All Trusts have advised that they employ a rigorous triaging regime on receipt of dementia referrals to ensure that those individuals at greatest risk are seen first. My officials continue to engage with those HSC Trusts where there is underperformance against this 9-week target. A level of underperformance is attributable to workforce gaps within Psychiatry of Old Age. However, Trusts are continuing with service improvement initiatives and recruitment exercises. (ii) Our Health and Social Care Trusts, and their community partners, are committed to supporting and increasing awareness and resources for those living with dementia, and those who care for them. Each Trust hosts, facilitates and supports a number of Dementia Awareness campaigns and initiatives throughout the year, these include the use of the Virtual Dementia Bus, promotion of Dementia awareness at memory walks and local marathons etc. Each Trust also employs staff who are specially trained in relation to Dementia. These include Dementia Navigators who provide support and advice to people when they are diagnosed with dementia and provide a point of contact within each HSC Trust throughout the person`s ‘Living with Dementia’ Journey. The Dementia Navigator holds a remit of health promotion, safer community living and living well with Dementia. Dementia Friendly Partnerships have also been formed across communities in Northern Ireland, they bring together local businesses and public facing services and facilitate Dementia Awareness training to their staff. Partnership working includes work with the Alzheimer’s Society and Dementia NI who provide training to HSC staff, the general public, local businesses and public facing services, which has included Translink and major supermarket chains. These groups also provide support and advocacy for the person living with Dementia and for their carers. My department has established a Regional Dementia Project Board to refocus on Dementia Care as a priority across Northern Ireland. The need for a renewed focus on Dementia Diagnosis and on Dementia Education and Training, across Northern Ireland, has been recognised as a priority. The Project Board has established two workstreams to take these areas of work forward.
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