Written Question · S7W-01272 · Session 7
What action it is taking in response to the findings of the report by Alzheimer Scotland, Better Care, Full Stop, including calls for (a) q…
The question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the findings of the report by Alzheimer Scotland, Better Care, Full Stop, including calls for (a) quicker diagnosis, (b) improvements to (i) post-diagnosis support, (ii) community-based support, such as specialist therapeutic and complex care day services, (iii) home care services, in particular, better training for care staff, (iv) palliative care and (v) residential care, (c) access to appropriate training in dementia care, peer support groups, professional counselling and psychological support for carers and supporters, (d) a care pathway comparable to other conditions such as cancer, (e) better co-ordination between health and other services involved in care of people with Alzheimer's, (f) more respite care, (g) annual health checks and (h) access to self-directed support budgets.
The answer
The Scottish Government is committed to improving outcomes for people living with dementia, their families and carers through Dementia in Scotland: Everyone's Story, Scotland’s Dementia Strategy.The initial two-year Delivery Plan(2024-2026) prioritised prevention, early intervention, community-support, diagnosis, post-diagnosis support and treatment.Key actions taken include:Allocated £2.35m since 2024-25, via the Resilient Communities Programme ,to support and sustain community-led activitiesContinued our additional investment of £3.5m a year to enhance access to our world leading commitment to 12 months dementia post diagnostic supportCommissioned an independent evaluation of Scotland’s Post Diagnostic Support (PDS) policy and delivery to inform future improvementDeveloped a national Dementia Index and road map of the dementia workforce to allow us to better target future interventionsFunded Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSD Scotland), formerly NHS Education for Scotland (NES),to undertake a national scoping exercise on the dementia workforce, learning needs and existing education and training provision. Resulting In an evidence base to inform future dementia workforce planning and deliveryThe strategy also highlights ways to educate the workforce and unpaid carers and make better use of the wide variety of tools available such as the Promoting Excellence framework for all health and social services staff working with people with dementia, their families and carers to support the strategy and implementation of Standards of Care for Dementia in Scotland.The Scottish Government also recognises the invaluable roles of care partners and unpaid carer’s, including those supporting people with dementia. The right to breaks provisions in the Care Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 will make changes to the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 to deliver a right to personalised short breaks support for carers who can’t currently access sufficient breaks from caring.We will continue to consider the findings of the Better Care, Full Stop report as we take forward delivery of the Dementia Strategy and work with partners, including Alzheimer Scotland, to improve diagnosis, care, support and outcomes for people living with dementia, their families and carers.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S7W-01272 by reference.