1. The National Dementia Declaration lists a number of outcomes that we 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? 

GWAS have been working to improve the care we provide to people with dementia and their carer’s. We have implemented a training package to improve knowledge and awareness. We are encouraging our health care partners to share information with us in particular care plans in order to treat individuals appropriately and ensure they are cared for in the most appropriate location. In September this year 2011 we are implementing the use of the Abbey pain score to be used for any person with a cognitive impairment to ensure their pain is managed well. 

We also have actions intended to set up an ambulance service forum where all UK ambulance services can share good practice and learn from each other this will commence in the autumn of this year. 

2. What are the challenges to delivering these outcomes from the perspective of your organisation? 

GWAS has no ring-fenced funding for implementing additional training and education for  dementia this funding has had to be found from within existing budgets. Each ambulance service are measured against response time targets which have historically impacted on training and education with training being postponed in order to meet increasing demand on resources. GWAS are continually balancing priorities to ensure we meet our response time standards and provide a high standard of clinical care to all of our patients