More Action On Dementia Needed

Reacting to the National Audit Office's report on Improving Dementia Services in England, Craegmoor's Divisional Managing Director for Older People, Avril Evans, said:

14 January 2010

"'A little less conversation a little more action' should be the government's theme tune until it gets it right. The NAO have rightly said that the strategy has been long on objectives but short on delivery. Many care providers continue to offer their staff insufficient dementia specific training and fail to provide leadership in the area. We are pleased to say that Craegmoor is not one of these providers.

"In August 2009 we appointed Debra Fox as our Quality Development Advisor for Dementia. She has successfully provided vital leadership and guidance to people at all levels of our organisation - in our services and to senior management. Together we have developed our own dementia care strategy that, over the next three years, will allow us to meet all of the objectives set out in the National Dementia Strategy.

"Our strategy will ensure that all staff receive the specialist training that they need and the people are given the personalised support that they want. Building on our existing practices, the strategy will also enable people to tell us what they think about us and develop environments that are even more safe, secure and enabling."