Agenda item

This Joint Health and Social Care Dementia Strategy for Surrey sets out a consistent, Surrey wide approach to dementia.It is framed around the Well Pathway for dementia and underpinned by reducing inequalities: many of the risk factors for dementia are associated with socio-economic inequality such as living in an area of deprivation and other priority populations as identified by the Health and Wellbeing Board.

Oversight of the strategy from the Health and Wellbeing Board will enable change and progress across the system, with a clearer focus on preventing dementia and supporting people with dementia, their carers and families.

Witnesses:

Kate Scribbins - Chief Executive, Healthwatch Surrey

Dr Sophie Norris - GP Wonersh Surgery Mental Health and Dementia Clinical Lead for Guildford and Waverley ICP (NHS Surrey Heartlands CCG)

Jane Bremner - Head of Commissioning Mental Health (Adult Social Care) (SCC)

Key points raised in the discussion:

1.    The Chief Executive, Healthwatch Surrey noted that:

·         the insights gathered through Healthwatch Surrey were of people who had gone through the experience of a dementia diagnosis, where timely and ongoing information through the right channel was vital.

·         there was positive feedback on Dementia Navigators who signposted individuals to support services including informal support groups whose provision relied on a few volunteers. 

·         areas for improvement were the inconsistent access to Dementia Navigators and people felt shocked at the lack of information and support that they were given within primary care.

·         three key recommendations followed from those findings and had been taken forward:

-       build access to Dementia Navigators;

-       undertake a strategic overview of the support groups;

-       empower primary care to signpost effectively.

2.    The GP (Wonersh Surgery) and Mental Health and Dementia Clinical Lead for Guildford and Waverley ICP (NHS Surrey Heartlands CCG) noted that:

·           co-production on the Dementia Strategy and engagement with those with dementia and their carers and loved ones was hugely important.

·           there were more than 10,000 people living with dementia across Surrey, with many more people yet to be diagnosed.

·           the Dementia Strategy Action Board sought to bring together various interrelated workstreams such as care homes, frailty, end of life and learning disability care.

·           the Dementia Strategy Action Board met bi-monthly and co-produced the Dementia Strategy with Surrey and Borders Partnership (SABP), Alzheimer’s Society, Age UK, service user groups and Healthwatch Surrey.

·           the Dementia Strategy identified that people with dementia were a health inequality group and sought to ensure they are not left behind in discussions around commissioning and mental health for example.

·           the Dementia Strategy was based on the mental health for dementia care pathway which is an NHS framework and has five components: preventing well, diagnosing well, living well, supporting well and dying well; not just solely focusing on dementia diagnosis rates.

·           through working in partnership, localised recommendations for Surrey had been drawn up, alongside a clear action plan with target dates.

3.    The Head of Commissioning Mental Health - Adult Social Care (SCC) welcomed comments on how Board members could provide support to develop a programme of work particularly around prevention.

4.    A Board member commented that in her capacity as Cabinet Member for Adults and Health (SCC) she had been involved in ensuring that the Dementia Strategy went through the scrutiny process and was sent to relevant partners - feedback had been positive and had been incorporated. She thanked the three item presenters for their work, including the work of Healthwatch Surrey ensuring that the voices of those with dementia were heard and thanked the informal groups across Surrey such as DayBreak Respite Care in Spelthorne.

5.    The Vice-Chairman commended the Dementia Strategy which had clear deliverables and timelines. She offered her support to achieving those deliverables from an NHS perspective. Referring to item 5 around the key neighbourhoods, she suggested whether targeted mapping could be undertaken so support could be given - noting the unwarranted variation across Surrey in the availability of Dementia Navigators - as often the areas of highest deprivation are also those without key community support networks.

6.    A Board member echoed the support offered by colleagues, the clear targets and focus on prevention in the Dementia Strategy. She emphasised that prevention was a focus across Priority One and that programme management support was in place to continue to align the work with the Dementia Strategy.

7.    The Chairman requested an update within a year or so on the progress made in terms of achieving the targets set out in the Dementia Strategy. He praised the Dementia Strategy and thanked those involved in producing it.

RESOLVED:

1.    Approved the Joint Health and Social Care Dementia Strategy for Surrey.

2.    Supported identifying resources to develop services that reduce inequalities in access for people with dementia, their carers and families.

3.    Supported the inclusion of dementia specific prevention activities in the programme of work included in priority 1: supporting people to live healthy lives.

Actions/further information to be provided:

1.    Board members’ comments will be taken on board and an update on the progress made in terms of achieving the targets set out in the Dementia Strategy will be given in a year or so.