Agenda item

The Board considered a report of the Director of Adults and Communities which regarded the 2024-28 Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) Dementia Strategy and provided an update on the development of the Leicestershire Dementia Strategy Delivery Subgroup. A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda Item 6’, is filed with these minutes.

Arising from discussions the following points were noted:

(i)           There was a disparity in the dementia diagnosis rates across LLR in that for Leicester 77.5% of people living with dementia had received a diagnosis whereas for West Leicestershire it was 61.8% and for East Leicestershire 60.8%. The diagnosis rate for Rutland was 54.8%. This trend was reflected nationally where cities had a higher diagnosis rate than rural county areas. It therefore appeared that economic factors and deprivation were not a relevant factor for dementia diagnosis. Instead, other factors were believed to be more relevant such as isolation which meant people were better able to hide the signs of dementia from others. It was queried whether GPs were being sufficiently proactive to identify patients with dementia. It was also noted that the memory assessment service ran by LPT was based in the city centre which could have an impact on the types of people that attended for appointments. Satellite dementia clinics had now been implemented in the county, and this could have a positive impact on dementia diagnosis rates in people from rural areas. The introduction of Neighbourhood teams would also help the identification and referral process.

(ii)         Referral to the memory assessment service took time and the average waiting time was 16 weeks. It was expected that the recent withdrawal of funding from the service would result in increased waiting times. However, the Board was pleased to note that whereas previously the dementia support service would liaise with a patient once the diagnosis had been made, it was now involved as soon as the referral was made and Age UK could also work with the patient straightaway.

(iii)        It was important to make every contact count and housing teams at district councils could play a role in identifying people that may be suffering from dementia. District health leads could also play a role.

(iv)       Thanks were given to Healthwatch Leicester and Leicestershire for their help with the engagement work. The number and quality of responses was pleasing. It was felt that Healthwatch were able to get better responses than if the County Council had carried out the consultation directly. Engagement had taken place with hard to reach groups in both the city and the county. More engagement was required with rural and farming communities.

(v)         It was suggested that the strategy and engagement work should include reaching out to those people that were excluded from accessing digital methods of communication.

(vi)       Voluntary Action Leicestershire requested to be involved with the dementia awareness raising activities given the contacts they had with a large number of organisations.

(vii)      In response to a question, reassurance was given that links would be made between the Dementia Strategy work and Active Together, and a Public Health representative sat on the Dementia Programme Board who would be able to act as a conduit.

(viii)    It was queried whether the dementia work did in fact have an equalities impact and suggested that future reports to the Board could have the Equality Impact Assessment appended to it to enable Board members to understand the equality implications.

(ix)       It was queried how successful the previous dementia strategies had been and how it could be ascertained whether the current strategy was having a positive impact and what success looked like. In response it was explained that assurance would be provided through regular updates to the Health and Wellbeing Board.

(x)         There was a shortage of care homes for people with dementia. This was significant because it often became increasingly difficult for families to deal with dementia patients as their condition progressed.

(xi)       The loneliness of the carers of people with dementia needed to be addressed.

RESOLVED:

(a)    That the information provided on the 2024-28 LLR Dementia Strategy and the consultation that informed the development of the strategy be noted;

(b)    That the information provided on the development of a Leicestershire Dementia Strategy Delivery Subgroup and Action Plan be noted.