Patients and their families are being asked for their views to help shape the future direction of dementia services in the area.
Nottinghamshire and Nottingham Healthwatch, who investigate patient concerns, have launched a joint project to investigate patients' experiences at the point they were given their diagnosis of dementia.
The consultation, which continues until April, was prompted by recent suggestions that some patients were not getting the support they needed when they first received the news.
Pete McGavin, Interim Chief Executive at Nottingham Healthwatch, explained that the aim of the consultation is not to pour criticism on existing services, but to find out where improvements can be made and to explore ways of making local services the best they can be.
The project was prompted back in Autumn because the county Healthwatch received one or two views that patients perhaps hadn't had the experience at the point of dementia diagnosis that they hoped they would have had.
Looking at Nice (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) and found one or two things that they could have expected in terms of the kind of support they expected to receive.
I want to emphasise this doesn't mean we think there's a problem. when we look at these things they can often highlight a one-off issue and the service is grateful to find out when things aren't going quite right.
Our job is to listen and if there's an issue we do an independent investigation into them."
Cheif Executive, Nottingham Healthwatch
Questionnaires are available to those who have had a diagnosis of dementia, and their families, in the last 12 months.
The views of participants will be passed on to medical staff and used to inform future planning and delivery of dementia services in the area.
Nottinghamshire Healthcare works closely with Healthwatch Nottinghamshire in the monitoring and improvement of our local mental health services.
This current focus on dementia assessment and diagnosis is welcome as we see many more people coming forward with symptoms.
We're currently working with Healthwatch and welcome any feedback that can help us improve our services and the experience for patients and carers.
General Manager for Mental Health Services for Older People, Nottinghamshire Healthcare
It is estimated that there are more than 2,500 people living with some form of dementia in the Nottingham city area alone, though only about a third of these have a formal diagnosis. With the number of cases expected to rise in the coming decade, the need to make services the best they can be is imperative.
If you'd like to take part in the project...
visit www.healthwatchnottinghamshire.co.uk/projects
call 0115 9635179
or email prema.nirguide@healthwatchnottinghamshire.co.uk
Source: Nottingham Post 26/2/16
