§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will initiate a review into services for those who suffer from dementia in Northern Ireland. [116381]
§ Mr. BrowneA detailed examination of service provision for people with dementia was carried out by a multidisciplinary team led by the Department with representatives from Boards, Trusts, the University of Ulster and the Alzheimer's Society in 1994. Its aim was to examine policy on dementia in Northern Ireland and to provide Boards and Trusts with guidance, which would contribute to a more co-ordinated and better targeted approach to meeting the needs of people with dementia and their carers. The Department accepted the Report of the Dementia Policy Scrutiny published in 1995 and adopted its 33 recommendations as the basis for policy in this area.
While progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the Dementia Policy Scrutiny Report, more needs to be done. The Department is now looking at what further action can be taken to improve services, in the light of developments since this report. Boards, Trusts and significant groups such as the Alzheimer's Society will be fully involved in this process.