NHS dementia care ‘must be improved’

Hospitals in England and Wales are falling short of expectations in the care they give to dementia patients, a new report has suggested.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists carried out an audit of 210 hospitals and it suggests that communication with families is often poor. It also showed that a lack of personal care for patients was prevalent.

Care services minister Paul Burstow said from next year the government was determined to improve standards and suggested it was a must-read for every medical and nursing director in the UK.

"It is time for the NHS to put in place the training and support that improves the care and treatment of people with dementia and saves money too," he added.

Earlier this year, the All Parliamentary Group on Dementia said the number of NHS hospital beds in the UK should be cut by at least ten per cent in order to free up funds for dementia care.