Alzheimer Scotland welcomes strategy for Better Health, Better Care – Long Term Conditions

Alzheimer Scotland welcomed today’s announcement of the Scottish Government’s strategy on long term conditions, as part of its Better Health, Better Care plan and is happy that this strategy recognises dementia as a critical healthcare challenge and makes it a national clinical priority.

Alzheimer Scotland also welcomed the news that the implementation of the SIGN guidelines on dementia will be assessed, as this will benefit the care and treatment of people with dementia.

Kate Fearnley, Health and Community Policy Director of Alzheimer Scotland said “It is very positive that everyone with a long-term condition will have a self-management plan – this is rarely the case currently for people with dementia. We welcome the commitment to investing in training and support for people with long term conditions and their carers: with the right help to manage the difficulties dementia can bring, people with dementia and carers can have a better quality of life and avoid preventable problems.”

Recognition of the importance of the NHS working with local authorities and the voluntary sector to provide the range of support that people with long-term conditions need in the community was also strongly supported. However, Alzheimer Scotland reiterated that it is also important that resources will be made available, to allow services to grow in line with the predicted 75% increase in number of people with dementia in the next 25 years.