Agenda item

This paper concerns the refresh of the Dementia Framework 2014-19 and development of the new Joint Dementia Strategy 2020-23.

The Health and Wellbeing Board is asked to:

1)   review the draft West Sussex Joint Dementia Strategy 2020-23 and support its launch in the spring;

2)   provide ongoing oversight, of progress against the strategy; and

3)   champion the new Dementia Strategy and the need for additional investment to maximise the preventative value of supporting those living with dementia to remain as independent as possible.

50.1 The Board received a report from the Senior Commissioning Officer (Adults and Health) and the Commissioning Manager Mental Health and Dementia Horsham and Mid Sussex CCG and Crawley CCG, Coastal West Sussex CCG on the refresh of the Dementia Framework 2014-19 and the development of the new Joint Dementia Strategy 2020-23 (copy appended to the agenda and available on the website). The report set out the work that has been done to review the progress that has been made to date as well as identify gaps in the pathway.  The paper also summarised what had been done to ensure the new strategy had been developed collaboratively with statutory and voluntary sector partners, family and friend carers and individuals living with dementia.

50.2 It was reported that there had been some progress since the launch of the Dementia Framework in 2014. An example given was the diagnosis rate that had increased from 43% in 2014 to 63.4% in November 2019. It was noted that there had been an improved offer of post-diagnostic support for the individual and their family carers from Dementia Advisers and Dementia Support Workers and dementia friendly communities had grown and extended their reach and there were now 9 Local Dementia Action Alliances in the county.

50.3 The Board was informed that there are nine thousand people living with dementia along the county’s coastline and there is still more to do to improve the experience of those affected.  Findings from the review had been used to refresh the Dementia Framework and set priorities for the Dementia Strategy 2020-23.

50.4 The economic cost and impact on social care and health budgets was highlighted. It was stated that there was currently no additional funding identified for the implementation of the new Dementia Strategy and so the council and its partners had looked at what could be achieved in the current financial climate and what could be achieved if there is more funding available in the future. The vision is to ensure that all providers from health and social care, both statutory and voluntary as well as the community sector, work collaboratively to support Dementia Friendly Communities to become sustainable whilst extending their reach and spread.

50.5 In highlighting the Dementia Strategy 2020-23, it was explained that a number of gaps in the pathway for someone with dementia had been identified and therefore a joined up approach would be needed to address provision in line with available budgets.  The refreshed Strategy would be set around five elements:

·       Preventing Well – what could be done in a more effective way;

·       Diagnosing Well – ensuring that family, friends and carers were made aware of support;

·       Supporting Well – live well at home for as long as possible;

·       Living Well – ensuring that people with dementia live well, keeping fit and active; and

·       Dying Well – advanced care plans and bereavement support.

50.6 In discussing the report, the Board;

·       suggested that commissioned services needed to provide flexibility to assist with tight budgets and end of life care could be assisted by the expertise already available in hospices;

·       agreed that the Health and Wellbeing Board would endorse and support the strategy whilst recognising that a strategy is only as good as the action plans that it supports;

·       recognised that the Board could assist in increasing awareness of dementia;

·       welcomed the existing expertise that exists within District and Borough councils and future collaborative working;

·       noted that the focus should be on prevention with the promotion of general healthy living;

·       highlighted the need to embrace a core mechanism for delivery of support so that partners such as the Fire & Rescue Service, Police, Libraries, Trading Standards and Ambulance Service are able to provide this service with one voice.

50.7 Resolved that the Health and Wellbeing Board

1)   reviewed the draft West Sussex Joint Dementia Strategy 2020-23 and supported its launch in the spring; and

2)   provide ongoing oversight of progress against the strategy as well as champion it and support the need for additional investment in order to maximise the preventative value of supporting those living with dementia to remain as independent as possible.