Written answers
Thursday, 21 July 2016
Department of Health
National Dementia Strategy Implementation
Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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630. To ask the Minister for Health the actions from the dementia strategy implementation programme to be implemented in the first two quarters of 2016 which have been completed, in tabular form. [23961/16]
Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The aim of the Irish National Dementia Strategy which was published in December 2014 is to improve dementia care so that people with dementia can live well for as long as possible and can have services and supports delivered in the best way possible. The strategy emphasises that most people with dementia live in their own communities and can continue to live well and to participate in those communities.
However, the Dementia Strategy Implementation Programme refers specifically to a set of actions which have been identified and are agreed with Atlantic Philanthropies and co-funded by Atlantic Philanthropies and the HSE.
The Programme provides for:
- The rollout of a programme of Intensive Home Supports and Homecare Packages for people with dementia;
- The provision of additional dementia-specific resources for GPs, who are the critical and initial point of contact with the health system for those with dementia; and
- Measures to raise public awareness, address stigma, and promote the inclusion and involvement in society of those with dementia.
Progress to date on the implementation of these measures is set out in the following table.
| PRIORITY AREA | UPDATE |
|---|---|
| Establish a Dementia Strategy Implementation Office | A National Dementia Strategy Implementation office has been established. A Programme Manager and Projects Manager have been appointed. (Completed April 2016) Communication to the wider HSE family has commenced (for example a newsletter has been circulated) and work is underway to set up a website for the National Dementia Office. Presentations have been made at numerous conferences in 2015/2016 to promote the office and disseminate information about the strategy. A Cross-Divisional working group has been established within the HSE, to provide leadership and integration at the system level. |
| Prepare an Implementation Plan for the National Dementia Strategy | Completed. This is a “live” document and will evolve over the life of the project. It is updated monthly and presented to the Monitoring Group at quarterly meetings. |
| Establish an NDSIP monitoring group, chaired by the HSE | Monitoring Group established, first meeting held 01/04/2015. There have been 5 meetings to date (including the 9th June 2016). Next meeting October 2016 |
| Establish a joint oversight committee with DoH, Atlantic Philanthropies and HSE | Established with first meeting held in June 2015. Meeting held in June 2016 |
| Develop an evaluation Framework to capture learning of the overall impact of the National Dementia Strategy Implementation Programme and the outcomes from the 3 investment priority activities. | An expert panel has been established to oversee the process of evaluation. Chairperson has been appointed. First meeting to take place in September |
| Intensive Home Supports for People with dementia (IHCP) GENIO Delivery of IHCPs, HSE/Genio Standard Operating Procedures, HSE/Genio Integrated Working, Genio | The roll out of Intensive home care packages commenced in January 2015 and monitoring of the allocation and uptake of these packages to persons with dementia is ongoing. A suite of Key Performance Indicators to measure impact have been developed, and are ready to be used in the reporting and verification process. A standard operating procedure for home care packages including for those living with dementia have also been developed and are in use. Work has begun on developing integrated working through consortia, in two initial sites (North Dublin and Cork). The lead and key stakeholders have been identified, the first meeting has been held and objectives have been set. To date 133 people living with dementia have benefitted, with 85 currently active. |
| Dementia Awareness Programme and Attitudes to dementia survey | HSE Health and Well-being and HSE Communications divisions have developed a nationwide support campaign. This is aimed at people with dementia and their carers, working in collaboration with a range of partners. The campaign strategy entitled “Dementia Friendly Ireland” has established a steering committee, chaired by Professor Brian Lawlor. This committee has completed a literature review, an attitudes survey and both qualitative and quantitative research including a sounding board event inclusive of People With Dementia and Carers. This research will inform the campaign which is envisaged as being launched in September 2016. |
| Education and training in dementia care for primary care teams and GP’s | A research collaboration agreement has been signed between University College Cork and Primary Care Education, Pathways & Research of Dementia (PREPARED) project collaborators Dublin City University and Irish College of General Practitioners. A Service Level Agreement has been signed between PREPARED and HSE, 22/05/2015. A steering committee has been established, a project manager has been appointed. Dr Aisling Jennings, GP, has commenced a PREPARED related PhD focusing on dementia care pathways. To date the PREPARED project has produced a dementia reference guide for GP’s, a training/facilitators manual which is currently being piloted with a group of allied health professionals with plans to roll out nationally being worked up with the HSE. A website www.primarycare.ie has been launched for all Health Care Practitioners & GPs. 7 GPs have been recruited in regional hubs to deliver training. (May 2016) |
Additional Actions Completed to Date: 2016
1. A medication management working group has been established.
2. The single assessment tool will be used to enable provision of targeted supports. A working group is in operation to develop this further.
3. A dementia and delirium care pathway has been devised with input from the National Dementia Office.
4. Best practice in dementia care design guidelines for HSE community nursing units have been signed off.
5. Work has commenced as part of a Health Research Board research grant on developing guidelines for the Environment for the Acute Sector.
6. The National Dementia Office continues to support current initiatives in the provision of dementia specific training such as the HSE Dementia Education Programmes and the Elevator Programmes, as well as the development of training for GP’s and Primary Care Teams.
7. The National Dementia Office continues to maintain links with the Health Research Board.
Evaluation:
The HSE has taken initial steps to set up an Expert Panel to oversee and advise on the evaluation of the National Dementia Strategy Implementation Programme and on the outcomes achieved. Dr Mary Rose Day has agreed to chair this group. Terms of reference and proposed membership are being drawn up at present. It is proposed that the group will develop an evaluation framework that will be put out as part of a procurement process later in 2016.
It is planned to evaluate the National Dementia Strategy on three levels:
- Whole System Level: Data will be agreed to evaluate the impact of the overall strategy on people with dementia and their family/carers.
- Programme Evaluation Level: This will assess the effectiveness of the National Dementia Implementation Programme.
- Project Level: Each of the funded streams has evaluation processes set out as part of their programmes. These will inform part of the overall strategy evaluation. In addition, an evaluation of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland Dementia Advisors will be supported to inform future actions under the National Dementia Implementation Programme after year 3.
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