Alzheimer's Society comments on CQC survey showing people with dementia report poorer experiences in hospital

• The CQC today released results of the 2019 adult inpatient survey, involving 143 NHS acute trusts in England, reveal what almost 77,000 adults who had stayed in hospital for at least one night during July last year said about the care they received. Link to report here.
• Poorer experiences were found for respondents with dementia or Alzheimer's for five out of nine themes: information, communication and education; respect (for patient centred values, preferences and expressed needs); hydration; respect and dignity and overall experience.
• Alzheimer’s Society analysis of NHS England’s Hospital Episode Statistics dataset from 2012/13 to 2017/18 was published on 22 January 2020. It found admissions of people with dementia have increased 35% or by 100,000. 379,004 in 2017/18, 279,265 in 2012/13. Link to report here.

Fiona Carragher, Director of Research and Influencing at Alzheimer’s Society, said:

'People with dementia deserve to feel safe and protected in hospital.

Unfortunately, today’s report from CQC confirms our fears that we are far from this reality, as those with dementia consistently report a poorer experience in hospital.

Our analysis published at the start of this year also showed an increase of over a third in emergency hospital admissions among those with dementia, with a lack of quality social care often prolonging their stay unnecessarily in a disorientating and scary environment.

'Coronavirus has hit people with dementia hardest and with the possibility of a second peak this winter, we’ve got to make sure that hospitals take dementia seriously. By listening to those with dementia and giving hospital staff the resources and training they need, we can make hospitals a dementia friendly place.'