Scotland’s “world-leading” approach to dementia care is being supported by an additional £500,000 investment in education and training for front-line staff.
The number of Dementia Champions working in Scotland’s hospitals and social care settings will rise to over 600 thanks to £120,000 over the next two years.
A further £360,000 has been pledged for Alzheimer Scotland’s Specialist Dementia Nurses over the next three years. This is in addition to £1.2 million joint investment for Alzheimer’s Scotland nurses over the last three years.
This commitment to improve the dementia work-force supports Scotland’s strong performance on diagnosis compared to other areas of the UK; our post-diagnostic support for people newly diagnosed which is recognised as world-leading; and our national action plan to improve hospital care.
In making this announcement Falkirk West MSP and Minister for Public Health Michael Matheson said:
“We know timely diagnosis and post-diagnostic support for dementia is vital, and I’m proud that Scotland is leading the way on this.
“However, it is equally important that everyone in Forth Valley and Scotland in general with dementia receives safe, effective care at all stages of the illness and in all care settings – at home, in hospital and in residential care. We want to support more people to live well in their own homes for longer and we are working with services across our area to support this aim.
“Dementia Champions and Specialist Dementia Nurses have a vital role to play in transforming the way we treat dementia, enabling more people to have supported self-management at home for longer. We are also working towards less hospital admissions and later admissions into long-term care.
“We are committed to transforming dementia services with a range of other activity in our current Dementia Strategy. I am confident that, with the continued support, professionalism and hard work of all those involved, we will continue to improve care and provide better support for people in our communities living with dementia.”
