The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued a guide to support the commissioning of high-quality, evidence-based care of people who have dementia, which includes a new social care dementia quality standard – Supporting people to live well with dementia (Reference: QS30).

Dr Jill Rasmussen, Clinical Champion for Dementia, Royal College of GPs, who is a member of the Lewy Body Society’s Specialist Advisory Committee is quoted by NICE saying:

“Although much has been done since the publication of the 2009 National Dementia Strategy for England to improve the health and social care support for people with dementia and their carers, the recent Update Report on dementia from the Care Quality Commission indicates there is clearly still much to do.

“Sadly, the number of people with dementia is steadily increasing and so are the challenges we face in ensuring that people with dementia and their carers are able to live as well as they possibly can with their condition. This support for commissioning covers the full breadth of social, medical and psychological treatment and care for people with dementia and their carers, from early detection through to end of life that commissioners need to consider if they are to meet that challenge.”

For more information, click on the links below:

• NICE Information for the public about the new dementia quality standard
• NICE website background on improving commissioning for dementia
• Update Report on dementia from the Care Quality Commission
• BBC News coverage connected to the publication of the NICE dementia care standards