Profile 1A Dementia Services at Darent Valley Hospital (DVH) [Update 1 - 28.10.13]

See also Profile No1[25.10.13] for a brief description of Darenth Valley Hospital (DVH).

The prevalence of dementia in the area of the NHS Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is now about 51% - some 49% of those living with dementia are, therefore, not currently diagnosed.  In line with national diagnosis standards the CCG has commissioned services so that the rate is targetted to rise to about 66% by 2015.

All this is important since those living with dementia who may be expected to go to DVH are likely to increase in the immediately foreseable future. They will be going fort the following reasons:

• a non-dementia related crisis in their health 
• a routine consultations with a consultant on health matters which are non-dementia related
• a person with memory problems who may be referred to the hospital's memory clinic after assessment by say, their GP
• after an event where a person has been found lost, they may be taken to the memory clinic at the hospital 
• after an event where a person has been found lost - wandering - they may be taken to the memory clinic at the hospital or, temporarily, to the secure unit for an assessment, etc 

In addition it may be noted that any patient over the age of 75 who is admitted for more than 72 hours will normally be assessed for memory problems. If the possibility of dementia should be indicated, he or she will be referred for diagnosis.

[The Dementia Buddy programme of volunteers at DVH is an important developoment which is being rolled out to other hospitals in Kent (see Post 13) when published shortly)].