The British Psychological Society has welcomed the Care Quality Commission (CQC) report on dementia care, and says that a greater focus on psychological care could help improve outcomes.

The report found that both hospitals and care homes are failing in key areas as the number of people with dementia rises, as people live longer.

CQC chief executive David Behan says that “people in charge of hospitals and care homes must work better, individually and together, to ensure the right services are in place”. The BPS agrees and suggests that more psychological assessments and improvements to sharing information would help inform care plans for patients with dementia.

Richard Pemberton, chair of the Society’s Division of Clinical Psychology said:

“This disturbing report on the poor quality of care provided to people with dementia in some areas needs to be viewed alongside the Winterbourne View and Mid Staffordshire Hospital scandals. We need to challenge the damaging models of care and apply the models of care we know work well, as demonstrated by the services across the UK that deliver effective and enhancing care for people with dementia”.

Cath Burley, chair of the Division of Clinical Psychology’s Faculty of the Psychology of Older People (FPoP), said:

“Caring for people with dementia, whatever their age, should focus not only on physical care but also on psychological care and support.  The BPS welcomes the improvements in communication with patients and carers made since the last report but the Society would highlight the continued lack of training for staff in A and E, primary and secondary care and care homes in how to recognise and manage people with dementia.  Providing support and training to staff to recognise the difficulties faced by those with memory problems and to support them during hospital admissions is not difficult but does require a shift towards greater person centred care. 

"It is also important for staff working in these settings to consider the possibility that younger people may have dementia and to swiftly put in place the standards of care required to accommodate their needs both in hospital and in care homes”.