Responding to the latest Alzheimer’s Society report on rising A&E admissions for people with dementia last year, Niall Dickson, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents organisations across the healthcare sector, has said that not enough is being done to support people with dementia.

The charity published data showing there had been a 73% rise in potentially unnecessary hospital admissions among dementia patients.

The data was compiled from 65 hospital trusts - nearly half of the total - on admissions for so-called preventable conditions. These included falls, dehydration and urinary tract infections.

Between 2012 and 2017 the number of admissions recorded by the trusts rose from just over 31,000 to nearly 55,000. The charity accepts some of the rise could be down to better recording, but said that could not account for the full increase.

Niall Dickson said: “One avoidable admission is one too many. Fifty thousand is a sign of a system that is not fit for purpose and is failing a generation of vulnerable people with dementia, as well as overstretched health and care staff.

“Hospitals struggled this winter under intolerable pressure and without new models of care and investment in health and social care services in the community, the position will only worsen.

“Our members have made it abundantly clear that the government’s promise of a long-term funding solution must include social care alongside with the NHS. There are ways to stop this from happening but it will require resources and political commitment.”

http://www.nhsconfed.org/