Issue - items at meetings - Dementia - Progress update

47.1         Kate Hirst gave an update on the National Dementia Strategy. Approximately 3000 people locally were likely to have a diagnosis of dementia. Of those, approximately 1000 had been diagnosed.  The Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board has identified dementia as a local priority.

47.2         The Memory Assessment Service contract had recently been awarded to a consortium including Brighton and Hove Integrated Care Service, Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust and the Alzheimer’s Society and the Carer’s Centre.

47.3         Ongoing funding for a Dementia Champion post at the Royal Sussex County Hospital has just been agreed.

47.4         Questions and comments included:

Ø      Are residents in care homes assessed?

There is a Care Home In Reach Team which goes to care homes and assesses residents. The Community Mental Health Team also goes into homes.

Ø      Is there a shortage of specialist Mental Health beds?

There is not enough local provision in care homes at present which means some residents access care homes outside the City. However, the CCG is anticipating three new providers to set up in the next year. There have also been care home closures which affect numbers of available beds.

47.5    The Chair welcomed the report and asked for an update in summer 2013.