Alzheimer Scotland welcomes findings of National Audit Office study

To: News/Health/Community Editors

A ‘significant and urgent challenge’: Alzheimer Scotland welcomes findings of National Audit Office study

Alzheimer Scotland welcomes the findings of the National Audit Office (NAO) study, Improving Services and Support for People with Dementia, which accused the Department of Health of failing to make dementia a priority in England and Wales. The report says that the crisis in dementia care presents a “significant and urgent challenge” but that not enough is being done about it. The NAO surveyed Community Mental Health Teams and GPs, finding widespread variation in services provided and low priority given to service improvement.

Although the NAO report covers England and Wales, Alzheimer Scotland’s recent report, The Dementia Epidemic: Where Scotland is Now and the Challenge Ahead highlighted a similar picture for Scotland: large and rapidly-growing numbers of people with dementia and services and patchy and often inadequate services which already fail to meet the needs of the existing number of people with dementia.

Jim Jackson, Chief Executive at Alzheimer Scotland, said, “Scotland is in a position of potential leadership, and Alzheimer Scotland welcomes Nicola Sturgeon’s statement last week that the Scottish Government intends to make dementia a priority. She rightly said that there is a consensus on the need for this. What we need next is a clear plan for how to put this into action, and we look forward to working with the Scotish Executive, NHS Boards and Local Authorities to create a dementia strategy for Scotland.”

"We need to take action now to minimise the numbers of people developing dementia and invest in anticipatory care, support for self management and research, with a strategy that ensures that resources are increased in line with the growth in numbers.”

Please give our Freephone 24hr Dementia Helpline telephone number: 0808 808 3000 and our web page address: www.alzscot.org at the end of articles.

Contact details:
Kirsty Jardine. Awareness Manager, 0131 243 1453, kjardine@alzscot.org
Jim Jackson, Chief Executive, 0131 243 1453, jjackson@alzscot.org
Kate Fearnley, Policy Director, 0131 243 1453, kfearnley@alzscot.org

Notes for Editors:

There are between 58,000 and 65,000 people with dementia in Scotland in 2007, 1,350 to 1,650 of whom are under 65. By 2031 there will be approximately 102,000 to 114,000 people with dementia. The economic impact in 2007 is estimated to be between £1.5 and £1.7 billion, rising to £2.6 - £2.9 billion (at today’s prices) in 2031.

Further information can be found at The Dementia Epidemic – Where Scotland is Now and the Challenge Ahead

On Thursday, 28th June, in the Scottish Parliament debate on Health & Wellbeing, Nicola Sturgeon (Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing) stated:

I will outline briefly two specific areas in which we can reach out across the chamber and make common cause for Scotland. One challenge that we face is our ageing population, which is why the Government is committed to making services for dementia a national priority. I hope that we can count on members' support on that. Likewise, I hope that we can work together to improve the position of carers in Scotland, who play a significant and often underappreciated role in health terms. We want to make rapid, significant and sustainable improvements in support for carers, including in respite care. I hope that there will be a cross-party consensus on that.

About Alzheimer Scotland:
Dementia affects approximately 58,000 - 65,000 people in Scotland. Alzheimer’s disease is the main form of dementia. The second most common is vascular dementia. As yet there is no cure.

Alzheimer Scotland is Scotland’s foremost voluntary organisation working for people with dementia and their carers. It:

• speaks out for the rights and concerns of people with dementia and their carers;
• operates services on over 60 sites throughout Scotland providing practical services such as day, evening and weekend centres, home care and befriending and carers' support services;
• provides the 24 hour national freephone Dementia Helpline (0808 808 3000);
• has a research programme.

Alzheimer Scotland - Action on Dementia is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland 149069. Registered Office: 22 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh EH3 7RN. It is recognised as a charity by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, no. SC022315.