Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Health to detail any recent steps his Department has taken to improve the (i) prevention of; (ii) timely diagnosis of; and (iii) treatment of, dementia.
Minister of Health: My Department established a Regional Dementia Project Board in May 2024 in order to bring a sharpened focus on improvement in demenita care and services across the region. The Board’s primary focus is the rollout of the Regional Dementia Care Pathway 2018, which is underpinned by five key pillars that are structured around prevention, timely diagnosis, living well with the condition, coping with changes and end of life care.
(i) Prevention The Department promotes a preventative, public health approach to dementia through wider strategies aimed at reducing key risk factors, including cardiovascular disease, smoking, physical inactivity and social isolation. The Regional Dementia Project Board supports a coordinated, cross sectoral approach, which includes Public Health Agency involvement, to prevention, including raising awareness of dementia risk reduction and promoting healthy ageing.
(ii) Timely diagnosis Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts are commissioned to deliver memory assessment and diagnostic services. My Department continues to monitor performance in regard to memory assessment times from initial referral and to work with the HSC Trusts to develop service improvements such as the expansion of multidisciplinary assessment teams and the development of new roles such as Advanced Practitioner role.
(iii) Treatment and support The Regional Dementia Care Pathway provide a structured approach to treatment and ongoing support, including both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, as well as community-based services. The Regional Dementia Project Board plays a key role in driving continuous improvement, promoting consistency of service delivery, and strengthening coordination across statutory and voluntary sectors to improve outcomes for people living with dementia and their carers.
My Department will continue to work with the Regional Dementia Project Board, HSC Trusts and key stakeholders to further embed the Regional Dementia Care Pathway and ensure services remain responsive, effective, and aligned with best practice.
ENDS
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