Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what targets his Department has set for reducing unnecessary hospital admissions for people with dementia.

There is greater awareness now about the importance of support after diagnosis of dementia, both for improving the individual’s quality of life and for the potential to reduce more costly crisis care, for example by avoiding unplanned or emergency admissions to hospitals.

On 21 February 2015 The Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia 2020 was published, building on the achievements of the Prime Minister’s challenge on dementia 2012-2015. The Government is clear that dementia remains a priority and will implement the 2020 Challenge in full to make sure that dementia care, support, awareness and research are transformed by 2020.

By 2020 we would wish to see the following improvements to care and support to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions for people with dementia:

- General practitioners (GPs) playing a leading role in ensuring coordination and continuity of care for people with dementia, as part of the existing commitment that from 1 April 2015 everyone will have access to a named GP with overall responsibility and oversight for their care.

- Every person diagnosed with dementia having meaningful care following their diagnosis, which supports them and those around them, with meaningful care being in accordance with published National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Quality Standards.

- Receiving information on what post-diagnosis services are available locally and how these can be accessed, through for example an annual ‘information prescription’.

- Access to relevant advice and support to help and advise on what happens after a diagnosis and the support available through the journey.