Luton & Dunstable University Hospital
The Luton & Dunstable University Hospital is an acute hospital providing a range of general services as well as several specialist services including Trauma Centre, Hyper Acute Stroke services, Corneal grafting and other specialist Eye surgery, Cardiac intervention and IVF fertility. We are working collaboratively with Luton and Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Groups to deliver our Dementia strategy which has been developed by a lead consultant and a Dementia specialist nurse. Our Dementia education strategy has been developed to ensure that all of our nursing staff have Dementia awareness training. A Dementia care pathway has been developed in accordance with national and local guidance to ensure the consistency of care across all departments within the organisation. Here at the Luton & Dunstable Hospital we currently screen all elderly patients on admission through our emergency department and make recommendations to GP’s to refer onto memory services for dementia within the community as appropriate.
- Updated:
- 26 November 2019
- Location:
- East of England
- Sectors:
- Hospitals and Hospital Trusts
- Local Alliances:
- Luton Dementia Action Alliance
1. Action Plan
1. The National Dementia Declaration lists seven outcomes that the DAA are seeking to achieve for people with dementia and their carers. How would you describe your organisation’s role in delivering better outcomes for people with dementia and their carers?
At the heart of the L&D Hospital is a determination to ensure that every patient receives the quality of care and the standard of treatment that we would want our own families to receive, this is achieved through assessment, and by improving awareness and diagnosis of dementia. The acute hospital is also key in supporting carers and signposting them t services and for support on discharge.
2. What are the challenges to delivering these outcomes from the perspective of your organisation?
The hospital delivers acute hospital care and the needs of the person with Dementia are often complex and multiple & because of this patients with dementia present with acute illness and other co-morbidities and will be seen by many professionals across the site during their stay; therefore, having all our staff (including non-clinical staff) knowledgeable and skilled in Dementia care while also delivering the acute aspects of care will be a significant organizational challenge.
Member website
http://www.ldh.nhs.uk/2. Actions
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We offer extended visiting, embracing ' johns campaign' to facilitate easier access to family support/life while in hospital.
We offer extended visiting, embracing ' johns campaign' to facilitate easier access to family support/life while in hospital.
- Status:
- Completed
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We will encourage our patients living with Dementia and their carers to share biographies with us. This will enable staff to deliver a person centred approach to care, recognising them as who they are.
We will encourage our patients living with Dementia and their carers to share biographies with us. This will enable staff to deliver a more person centred care, recognising them as who they are
- Status:
- Completed
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We continue to offer Dementia screening to all non elective admissions (over 75yrs) and make recommendations for referral to local memory clinics in line with our locally agreed pathways. This promotes early and accurate diagnosis.
We continue to offer Dementia screening to all non elective admissions (over 75yrs) and make recommendations for referral to local memory clinics in line with our locally agreed pathways. This promotes early and accurate diagnosis.
We have access to a psychiatric liaison service which supports appropriate diagnoses of Dementia and sugnposting to relevent local services inthe community.
Diagnososng in hospital is not common practice, however, in house referral to the Dementia specialist is recommended post diagnosis should this occur.
- Status:
- Delivered
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We will continue to offer our staff with education and training to improve their understanding of Dementia and how it affects individuals.
We will continue to offer our staff with education and training to improve their understanding of Dementia and how it affects individuals. All training provided is working towards nationally agreed skills & Knowledge framework tier 1 and tier 2 training . Local drive to improve the uptake of e-learning modules for all staff will take place this year 2019/20. ward managers are encourages to identify learning needs for staff during appraisals and we have identified two universities which provide appropriate tier 3 training which support leadership and research.- Status:
- Being implemented