Hospitals targeted in dementia campaign

East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton joined more than 160 other MPs in Westminster for the launch of Alzheimer’s Society’s Fix Dementia Care campaign.

He followed it up with a visit to Worthing Alzheimer’s Society to meet staff, volunteers and a group of people living well with dementia.

Mr Loughton said: “Good hospital care for people with dementia should never be a throw of the dice – yet in some hospitals, people are routinely experiencing the consequences of poor care.

“Alzheimer’s Society were in Westminster to urge MPs to back their new Fix Dementia Care campaign to end the postcode lottery on the quality of hospital care people with dementia face.

“The first step to improving the issue across the country is greater transparency - once we know where the shortcomings are we can take steps to tackle them.”

Worthing Town Cryers is a group of people with dementia who are advising and lobbying local service providers to help the town become a more dementia-friendly community.

Mr Loughton said: “We are lucky in Worthing to have such a group performing such an essential and appreciated service. The group helps keep people with dementia active, engaged and supportive.”

Tim Wilkins, service user involvement officer, said: “The Worthing Town Cryers enjoyed meeting one of their local MPs. They seemed to really engage with him and asked him all sorts of questions from the EU to the A27.

“This group enables people with dementia in Worthing to help raise awareness and understanding about dementia.”

MPs have called for greater transparency across the NHS following an Alzheimer’s Society investigation which found too many people with dementia are falling while in hospital, being discharged at night or being marooned in hospital despite their treatment having finished.

In the worst performing hospitals, people with dementia were staying five to seven times longer than other patients aged over 65.

George McNamara, head of policy and public affairs at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “We must put a stop to the culture where it’s easier to find out about your local hospital finances than the quality of care you’ll receive if you have dementia.”

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