A&E visits on the rise for people with dementia - Alzheimer's Society comments
More people with dementia than ever are being rushed to hospital A&E departments for support and then staying in hospital for a short time, according to new statistics.
The Dementia Intelligence Network, part of Public Health England, has also revealed that fewer people who are living with dementia are benefitting from care plan reviews.
The report says the rate of emergency admissions to hospital for people with dementia in 2017 to 2018 was 3,609 per 100,000 population aged 65 years and over, an increase on 2016 to 2017 (3,482).
It added that a lower proportion of people with dementia had their care plan review documented in the primary care notes in 2018 when compared with 2017.
Sally Copley, Director of Policy, Campaigns and Partnerships at Alzheimer’s Society, said:
“One million people in the UK will have dementia by 2021 – and these alarming figures prove we are nowhere near ready to meet the challenge.
“It is unacceptable that more and more people with dementia are being rushed to A&E because they have nowhere else to turn. These often avoidable stays in hospital – even if they’re just overnight – can be incredibly harmful to a person with dementia, as well as draining millions from the NHS. They’re an obvious symptom that there just isn’t enough high quality dementia care available in local communities.
“We need urgent action from the Government in the wake of revelations this week that a postcode lottery of care is continuing. Our Fix Dementia Care campaign is calling for vital funds to create a joined-up health and social care system, properly equipped to support everyone with dementia who needs it, wherever they live.”
