To review Herefordshire and Worcestershire dementia strategy and endorse the high level actions set out for 2019-2024.

The clinical programme manager of the CCG gave a presentation on the Herefordshire and Worcestershire ‘Living Well with Dementia Strategy 2019-2024’, the principal points are summarised below:

a.         The purpose of the new strategy was to set out a shared vision for a collaborative approach across both counties, with each county having its own action plan.

b.         Improving the health and wellbeing of people affected by dementia was a shared priority health outcome area for both counties and there were similarities, particularly between south Worcestershire and Herefordshire, in terms of challenges around dementia diagnosis and geography; the four CCGs were underperforming against the national target for dementia diagnosis.

c.         The strategy had been informed by the Older People’s Needs Assessment, local partnership events, a public survey, and feedback from service users, carers and a range of other stakeholders.

d.         The vision was that ‘in Herefordshire and Worcestershire people with dementia can live well through the following guiding principles: preventing well; diagnosing well; supporting well; living well; and dying well.

e.         The key messages and challenges that had emerged during a series of workshops were outlined.

f.          It was estimated that around 12,500 people were living with dementia in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, and this was expected to rise to around 20,000 people by 2025.  Consequently, there was a need to pool resources and share learning in order to achieve the best possible outcomes.

g.         A further engagement event was to take place during the following week to explore the high-level actions and to consider the immediate priorities.

h.         A five-year plan was considered realistic and would provide time to drive the culture change required and achieve longer-term outcomes.

The director for adults and communities said that the work was positive overall but, whilst there had been engagement with a range of stakeholders, more could be done to engage with the local authorities in the two counties, especially given the finite management resources available to attend individual events.  Concern was expressed about potential risks in terms of governance processes and ensuring that plans were relevant to the localities in which they were to be implemented.  The director added that there was a lot of strategy development happening locally which needed to be aligned; for example, the economic development strategy could contribute directly towards shaping dementia friendly communities.

Jo-anne Alner emphasised that the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Sustainability and Transformation Partnership did not operate in isolation, commented on the various engagement opportunities, and reiterated that each county would have its own action plan.

Resolved: That

(a)      the draft Herefordshire and Worcestershire Dementia Strategy 2019-2024 be noted; and

(b)      partner organisations be recommended to take the draft strategy through their governance systems for consideration and approval.