East Riding dementia patients missing out on “vital” care reviews, according to new figures

NHS guidance states dementia patients’ mental and physical wellbeing should be re-assessed in a face-to-face review every 12 months, as they are more likely to suffer from depression and less likely to report physical problems.

Charity Alzheimer’s Society warned outdated care plans may increase the chances of those living with dementia being rushed to hospital for issues that could have been prevented with good care, such as falls and infections.

Figures from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities show 1,134 dementia patients in the NHS East Riding of Yorkshire CCG area had their care plan reassessed in the year to March – 38% of those with a diagnosis. This was a sharp drop from 2019-20, when 72% of patients received a dementia care review.

Across England, the proportion of those receiving a care review dropped dramatically, from 75% in 2019-20 to 40% last year.

Gavin Terry, head of policy at the Alzheimer’s Society said: “This drastic drop in the number of people with dementia getting their care plans reviewed over the past two years is yet more evidence of just how badly hit they have been by the Covid pandemic.

“Despite the best efforts of our brilliant NHS and care staff, people with dementia have seen their routine care continually paused and people with dementia had the highest death rate from Covid.”

The prevalence among people of all ages across the East Riding of Yorkshire was 0.98% in 2020-21, lower than 1.08% in 2019-20.

The Alzheimer’s Society is calling on the Government to increase funding to decrease the backlog of people waiting for a formal diagnosis.

The Government said it was investing £375 million for neurodegenerative disease research – including for dementia – over the next five years.

A Department for Health and Social Care spokeswoman said: “We want a society where every person with dementia, and their families and carers, receive high quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to end of life.

“Since the start of the pandemic we have committed over £6 billion to councils to support people and tackle the impact of Covid-19 on their services, including adult social care.

“We have also invested an additional £5.4 billon over the next three years to begin a comprehensive reform programme.”