All NHS staff will be given dementia training
All NHS staff will have received dementia training by 2018, according to the Health Education England.
The commitment runs in parallel to plans aiming to make sure that NHS higher education courses include dementia training in their curriculum, in recognition that dementia has a widespread impact on society, including on the NHS.
The training will support staff to spot the early symptoms of dementia, to understand how to interact with people with dementia and to signpost to the most appropriate care and support.
The previous target for 100,00 NHS staff to be trained on dementia by March 2014 has been exceeded, with almost 110,000 already trained. The coming year will see double that number being trained this year, with 250,000 being trained in 2014/15.
Alzheimer’s Society comment:
‘This is huge progress and a massive step in the right direction. People with dementia occupy up to a quarter of hospital beds and many may not be able to communicate that they are pain, in need of help, hungry, thirsty or simply uncomfortable. This is why it is vital that all staff from porters to nurses and doctors are aware of dementia and trained in how they can meet the complex needs of those with the condition.
‘However, dementia is not just an issue for the NHS. Two thirds of people with dementia live in the community, so training care workers in how to work with people with the condition is just as important. One in three people over 65 will develop dementia. Everyone has a role to play in enabling people with dementia to live well.'
Tagged in Dementia