Is Scotland meeting the needs of people with dementia?

Photo (L-R): Jean Burnard (carer), Jim Jackson (Chief Executive), Shona Robison (Minister for Public Health), Lindsay Kinnaird (Policy & Research Officer and author of the 'Meeting our needs?' report) and Kate Fearnley (Health & Community Care Director) launch the new report in Glasgow, yesterday.

Insufficient provision and inappropriate services, lack of understanding (and sometimes fear) of dementia amongst care workers and a tightening of eligibility thresholds for community care services: just some of the problems highlighted in Alzheimer Scotland’s brand new report Meeting our needs? – the level and quality of dementia support services in Scotland.

The report was launched yesterday at Alzheimer Scotland’s ‘Going for Gold’ conference, which was also attended by Shona Robison, Minister for Public Health. The conference showcased examples of best practice in service provision – not only in Scotland, but from as far afield as Australia.

I will carefully consider the report and its recommendations.
- Shona Robison (Minister for Public Health)

Shona Robison said, “It is vital that in addition to improving the service we provide today, we also continue to develop better services in years to come. Our new Standards for Integrated Care Pathways for dementia lay down the first nationally-agreed benchmarks on social and healthcare management for dementia patients, and with Scottish Government funding and support the Scottish Clinical Research Network is establishing the infrastructure for a Dementia Research Network.

"I welcome the shared purpose and direction between Alzheimer Scotland’s Meeting our needs? report and the Scottish Government's own actions and priorities. I will carefully consider the report and its recommendations.”

...people with dementia and their carers in Scotland deserve nothing but the best.
- Jim Jackson

Jim Jackson, Chief Executive of Alzheimer Scotland, said, “Achieving the ‘gold standard’ for dementia support and care services should be more than an aspiration – people with dementia and their carers in Scotland deserve nothing but the best. However, our Meeting our needs? report highlights a vital need for action to redress deficiencies in dementia support services across Scotland: service provision is inconsistent and often not of a sufficient level or quality to effectively support people with dementia and their carers.”