Dementia services see increase
More people with dementia are accessing memory services commissioned by Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in England, according to survey results published by The NHS Information Centre.
The voluntary survey of PCTs suggests 951 people per PCT on average accessed the services in 2010/11, compared to 605 in 2008/09.
Today's results estimate what PCTs commission and spend regarding Memory Services, a key area of the NHS's National Dementia Strategy. These services are intended to provide early detection and diagnosis of dementia, in line with NICE guidance published in 2006.
Conducted between May and June 2011, the survey received 119 responses overall from the 149 Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and Care Trusts in England – an 80 per cent response rate. However not all participants responded to the survey in full.
Other findings suggest, of respondent organisations:
- 94 per cent commissioned memory services at 31 March 2011, with a further four per cent intending to implement these services in the future.
- PCT spend was £593,200 on average on Memory Services in 2010/11, compared to £486,000 in 2008/9. This does not take into account PCT geographical area or population size.
NHS Information Centre Chief Executive Tim Straughan said: "Although this is a voluntary survey, today's report offers the first ever estimates about how much PCTs spend on Memory Services and how many people are using them.
"This information provides a valuable basis from which to examine, compare and plan future provision of these services, which are clearly a key part of the NHS strategy to tackle dementia."
The report, which follows provisional results published in July, is at www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/memoryservicesfinalresults11