The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has launched a new commitment to the care of people with dementia in general hospitals.
Along with key stakeholders, including the Department of Health, Royal College of Physicians, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Alzheimer’s Society and Dementia UK, the RCN has set out a framework for improving the care of people with dementia in hospitals. The framework highlights key factors which are essential to delivering good quality care. As part of the commitment, the RCN has established the top five factors in supporting good dementia care, which are:
• Staff who are skilled and have time to care.
• Partnership working with carers.
• Assessment and early identification of dementia.
• Care plans which are person centred and individualised.
• Environments that are dementia friendly.
The commitment has been produced following a survey of carers and people living with dementia, and one with practitioners in which respondents expressed clear views on how care in general hospitals can be
