Dementia Health Integration Team review of 2014-15

Dr Elizabeth Coulthard, Director of the Dementia Health Integration Team (HIT), gives an update on the HIT’s activities in 2014-15.

The Dementia HIT aims to achieve the best quality of life
for people and families living with dementia. During our first two years we
have made significant strides towards this goal. We are now set to contribute
more to the enhancement of dementia care, through becoming the strategic driver
across Bristol and South Gloucestershire, directly accountable through
commissioners to Health and Wellbeing Boards. The number of people being
diagnosed with dementia continues to rise, with more diagnoses in primary care.

The Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service launched in October,
provided by the Bristol Dementia Partnership which brings together the Alzheimer’s
Society and Devon Partnership NHS Trust. The South Gloucestershire Dementia
Action Alliance launched in January, following on from the success of the Patchway
pilot. The Alliance works with communities, schools and individuals to create
dementia-friendly communities by raising awareness.

Our well-received conference in October showcased the range
of dementia-related work in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. The event was
attended by over 200 people, including people affected by dementia, members of
the public and health and social care professionals. Other events organised by
the Dementia HIT’s partners and collaborators include BRACE’s ‘Dementia: Hope
for the future’, and ‘FORGETWest’, organised by researchers at the Universities
of the West of England and Bristol.

Research is a major focus, encompassing clinical drug
trials, psychosocial approaches to dementia, service evaluation, and imaging to
improve diagnosis. We are working with NIHR CLAHRC West on two pieces of work,
one of which is in collaboration with the Integration to Avoid Hospital
Admissions HIT. Through Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership, we are
involved in Join Dementia Research, creating a national register of people
living with dementia that wish to participate in research.

North Bristol Trust is running the international TOMMORROW
study, recruiting healthy individuals to explore whether a new test can predict
the genetic risk for developing Alzheimer’s Disease, and test the safety and
effectiveness of medication to delay the first symptoms of memory problems.
North Bristol Trust is also running several studies to test medications that
might slow the progression of dementia.

We are developing our ongoing collaboration with the public
and patients through our PPI facilitator. People affected by dementia can now
sign-up to be involved in shaping our work and this has already contributed to
grant funding applications. Professionals can access these individuals via the
facilitator for input into their work.