§ Mr. HepburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department is doing to help increase the early diagnosis of dementia; what support groups and services there are for people with dementia and their carers in(a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside and (c) England; and what his Department is doing to increase the availability of information about dementia to the public. [67040]
§ Jacqui SmithThe importance of early diagnosis of dementia is recognised in the national service framework (NSF) for older people, which was published in March 2001. Implementation of Standard 7, on mental health in older people, will increase early diagnosis. Introduction of the single assessment process, also required by the NSF, will also help.
There are a number of national organisations which provide support and services for people with dementia and their carers, including the alzheimer's society, dementia voice and carers UK. In South Tyneside, there is a network of community services, provided through the 1264W community services department, which support people with dementia and their carers; and other services are being developed. The Alzheimer's Society provides a wide range of support services in collaboration with the personal advisor service which works in local primary health care teams and with the specialist mental health trust. Day care facilities are provided at Palmers Community Hospital in Jarrow.
The Department is promoting the availability of information through implementation of Standard 2 of the NSF, and of the information strategy which underpins the NSF, and through more general developments to promote patient and public involvement, for example, through patient advice and liaison services.