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16/12/2011
Two Thirds Of Dementia Staff Feel Under-Trained
A report by a major body overseeing Dementia care has found two thirds of ward staff feel their training is insufficient.
The first full report by the National Audit of Dementia (NAoD) said there was a need for "significant improvements" in hospital ward environments, staff training and the overall approach to care delivery for patients with dementia.
The report said only 32% of staff said their training and development in dementia care was sufficient with one staff member quoted as saying they had "never had any training" related to caring with patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s.
The Interim audit findings released last year showed that only 5% of hospitals had mandatory awareness training for their staff, according to NAoD.
Professor Peter Crome, Chair of the National Audit of Dementia Steering Group, said: “This report provides further concrete evidence that the care of patients with dementia in hospital is in need of a radical shake-up. We have a provided a number of recommendations that if implemented will enable patients and their families to have confidence in their hospital treatment.
However, the report also found that although the majority of wards met basic safety requirements, the audit shows many had not addressed simple measures to lessen the distress caused to dementia patients by an unfamiliar and confusing hospital environment.
Responding to the report, Liz Kendall MP, Labour's Shadow Minister for Care and Older People, said the Government had so far failed to give dementia care the priority it deserved.
“This isn’t what people with dementia and their carers need – and it is bad for taxpayers too. Emergency hospital admissions for people with dementia are increasing, and delayed discharges from hospital are rising too. The NHS is now spending £500,000 a day on the costs of delayed discharges from hospital alone.
“The Government is out of touch with what is happening on the ground. Far from making the real reforms we need to meet the needs of our ageing population, it is cutting care and forcing the NHS through a reckless, wasteful and distracting reorganisation.”
(DW)
The first full report by the National Audit of Dementia (NAoD) said there was a need for "significant improvements" in hospital ward environments, staff training and the overall approach to care delivery for patients with dementia.
The report said only 32% of staff said their training and development in dementia care was sufficient with one staff member quoted as saying they had "never had any training" related to caring with patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s.
The Interim audit findings released last year showed that only 5% of hospitals had mandatory awareness training for their staff, according to NAoD.
Professor Peter Crome, Chair of the National Audit of Dementia Steering Group, said: “This report provides further concrete evidence that the care of patients with dementia in hospital is in need of a radical shake-up. We have a provided a number of recommendations that if implemented will enable patients and their families to have confidence in their hospital treatment.
However, the report also found that although the majority of wards met basic safety requirements, the audit shows many had not addressed simple measures to lessen the distress caused to dementia patients by an unfamiliar and confusing hospital environment.
Responding to the report, Liz Kendall MP, Labour's Shadow Minister for Care and Older People, said the Government had so far failed to give dementia care the priority it deserved.
“This isn’t what people with dementia and their carers need – and it is bad for taxpayers too. Emergency hospital admissions for people with dementia are increasing, and delayed discharges from hospital are rising too. The NHS is now spending £500,000 a day on the costs of delayed discharges from hospital alone.
“The Government is out of touch with what is happening on the ground. Far from making the real reforms we need to meet the needs of our ageing population, it is cutting care and forcing the NHS through a reckless, wasteful and distracting reorganisation.”
(DW)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Dry, bright start this morning with best of sunshine in the west. Thickening cloud over Down and Antrim this morning with a few showers, extending westwards this afternoon. Lighter winds. Maximum temperature 16 °C.Tonight:Rather cloudy and mainly dry at first, then showery outbreaks of rain extending westwards to most places during the night, turning heavier towards morning. Light winds. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
