Agenda item

The Committee considered a progress report on Improving Dementia Support Services in Carmarthenshire. Members were advised on the national recommendations published by the Older People’s Commissioner regarding the improvements needed in dementia services, the regional steering group that had been set up to deliver these improvements and the progress and actions taken at a local level to respond to these recommendations.

The report referred to a recent national publication by the Older People’s Commissioner of Wales entitled ‘More Than Just Memory Loss’, which captured what was important to people living with dementia and their carers from across Wales. The report outlined that people required consistent support, which included emotional as well as physical support. The Committee was informed of the development of Carmarthenshire’s Dementia Action Board and a broad outline of the work that had been undertaken locally. This included the development of Dementia Friendly Communities that supported the national movement aimed at improving society’s response to people who have dementia. It was highlighted that the first officially dementia community created in Carmarthenshire was in Pontyberem and Llanelli market had become the first Dementia friendly market in Wales.

It was noted that work was being undertaken with the primary care sector to deliver holistic dementia services. Officers highlighted that the Amman Gwendraeth GP Cluster continued to fund the community memory service which had been recognised nationally as good practice. It was noted that in Llanelli GPs, supported by the Community Team, were diagnosing dementia in the surgeries, which prevented the need for patients to be referred to hospital and resulted in a more timely diagnosis. Work on Commissioning had also been progressed to explore the opportunities to develop a bespoke care and support model for those living with dementia and cognitive impairment. This model would provide a more flexible approach than the traditional domiciliary care model and would better meet the needs of the individual as well as saving money and resources.

Members highlighted that some of the work being undertaken in dementia services had been excellent. In particular, the health and well- being facility Ty Golau was mentioned and it was commented that it was positive to see GPs supporting such beneficial initiatives.

The Committee noted that there were low diagnosis rates of dementia across the Hywel Dda Health Board area. It was queried if this was due to less people in the area having dementia or that the Health Board did not perform as well as other areas in diagnosing it. Officers explained that the figures were from the Alzheimer Society and based on population information, however, it was not an exact science. The Alzheimer Society’s findings and the Health Board’s own analysis indicated that perhaps there was underperformance in formal diagnoses. It was explained that it was not just low rates but also the length of time for a diagnosis to be made that required addressing.

Members queried if the work being undertaken to improve dementia support would be extended across the County. The Head of Integrated Services explained that the service in Llanelli was mainly funded through primary care and GPs had the lead in how the money should be used. However, all good practice should be shared across Carmarthenshire and examples were provided of where this had happened. The new Locality Manager for the Amman Gwendrith area, Neil Morgan, was welcomed by the Committee and it was noted that he would be working with a new GP lead in that area.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be received.