South West Standards for Dementia Care in Hospital
The South West Standards for Dementia Care in Hospital have been developed in response to the many concerns expressed about poor quality care experienced by people with a dementia when they are in hospital. These concerns are highlighted in the recent interim report of the National Audit of Dementia Care (Care in General Hospitals). Some patients with a dementia will have received a diagnosis prior to their admission to hospital. Many others will not have yet been assessed or diagnosed but will have a range of dementia-related symptoms. The South West Standards for Dementia Care in Hospital embrace both groups.
Action over the next 2 years to systematically implement these 8 standards, alongside the findings of the National Audit of Dementia Care, is intended to transform hospital care for people with a dementia. Hospital staff, patients, volunteers, relatives, carers and commissioners all have roles to play in achieving these standards. Local dementia partnerships will coordinate and monitor delivery.
An Expert Reference Group, led by Alison Moon, Regional Champion for dementia care in hospitals, has developed the standards. If you have ideas or suggestions about the implementation of these standards or further improvements please contact Alison Moon via [email protected].
Download:
- South West Hospital Standards in Dementia Care Full Report (MS Word 692KB)
- South West Hospital Standards in Dementia Care Executive Summary (MS Word 500KB)
Implementation tools:
- South West Hospital Standards in Dementia Care implementation guidance (MS Word 584KB)
- Annex 1: South West Hospital Standards in Dementia Care links to national resources (MS Word 472KB)
- Annex 2: South West Hospital Standards in Dementia Care self assessment template (MS Word 476KB)
- Annex 3: South West Hospital Standards in Dementia Care improvement plan template (MS Word 476KB)
Local audit tools:
- NHS Gloucestershire audit tool 1 (MS Word 140KB)
- NHS Gloucestershire audit tool 2 (MS Word 588KB)
We encourage local improvement teams to share the local audit tools that they develop. Please send them by email to [email protected].
Promotional materials:
- South West Hospital Standards in Dementia Care summary presentation 1 (MS PowerPoint 820KB) – viewing the Alzheimer’s Society video from YouTube on slide 2 requires an Internet connection.
- South West Hospital Standards in Dementia Care summary presentation 2 (MS PowerPoint 18.7MB) – this is a very large file as it includes an embedded Alzheimer’s Society video on slide 2. It will only work on PowerPoint 2007 and later.
- South West Hospital Standards in Dementia Care diagram (MS Word 208KB)
- South West Hospital Standards in Dementia Care A3 wall chart (MS Word 236KB)
- South West Hospital Standards in Dementia Care patient leaflet (coming soon)
- South West Hospital Standards in Dementia Care staff leaflet (coming soon)
- South West Hospital Standards in Dementia Care audience engagement framework (MS Word 88KB)
- Dementia ward champions job description (MS Word 116KB)

