Last chance to give your views on dementia care in Norfolk!

9 February 2010

Residents in Norfolk will have their final chance to discuss their views on care for those with dementia during a special event tomorrow (Wednesday 10 February).

NHS Norfolk, Norfolk Adult Social Services and their health and social care partners, have organised a public meeting at The Assembly Rooms, Theatre Street, Norwich, NR2 1RQ from 4pm to 7pm.

Visitors will be invited to comment and ask questions on "Living Well With Dementia", a draft joint dementia commissioning strategy produced by NHS Norfolk and Norfolk County Council and working in partnership with NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

NHS Norfolk Board members approved the document for public consultation at their meeting last November and the document is supported also by Norfolk County Council Adult Social Services. It sets out the strategy drafted with full stakeholder engagement on how an improved service can best be delivered by all partners involved.

The public consultation began on 30 November and continues until 22 February, 2010.

Running alongside the consultation, NHS Norfolk commissioned independent research with people who have been diagnosed with dementia, and their families.

Steve McCormack, Commissioning Manager for Mental Health at NHS Norfolk, said: "Feedback from those who have attended the meetings so far has been very helpful, and we would encourage anyone who would still like to air their views to come along to tomorrow's event - or to use one of the other methods to respond if they cannot attend."

Hugo DeWaal, Consultant Psychiatrist at Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust added: "As one of the main specialist health providers for patients with dementia and their carers, Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust warmly welcomes the draft commissioning strategy and the public consultation NHS Norfolk, NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney, and Norfolk County Council, are currently conducting.

"We are committed to work closely together with them in order to assist as best we can in implementing the National Dementia Strategy, the objectives of which will form the essential backdrop to how we all hope to provide the health services so desperately needed. That collaboration can only be considered a success if everyone, who is touched in one way or another by this illness, tells us what is important and essential in how such services are delivered."

Priorities for the strategy were developed through liaison with people who use the services, their families, NHS and social care staff and key partners such as voluntary organisations and housing agencies.

Now the public has the chance to have their say. Efforts will be made to increase the participation of people with dementia, their carers and service providers in Norfolk in planning the care provided.

Dementia is caused when parts of the brain stop working properly. There is no cure for the condition, which gets more common with age.

Last year, the number of people aged 65 and over in Norfolk predicted to have dementia stood at nearly 13,000. It is predicted that this number will rise to more than 20,000 in 2025 - an increase of more than 62 per cent, higher than the predicted national increase of 51 per cent.

To have your say online visit www.yournorfolkyoursay.org

Alternatively, consultation documents with feedback forms are also available from Norfolk County Council's Adult Social Services department on 01603 228847 and should be returned to: Living Well with Dementia, Freepost, PLZE-CLES-GKSL, Norwich, NR1 2SQ by 22nd February 2010.

After the public’s views have been collated, and the draft strategy has been approved by all partners, it is expected that it will be finalised in spring 2010.