The Department of Health have published a dementia ‘map’ of the country detailing the quality of care for dementia sufferers nationwide
The care map reveals a that 6% of Salfordians over the age of 65 have been diagnosed with dementia by their GP, which is at the top end of the national average.
See the map for yourself here.
65% of those with the condition in Salford were admitted to hospital each year which was marginally higher than the UK average.
Salford ranked poorly for emergency admissions though, with just over one in 20 dementia patients taken to hospital in an emergency.
Care reviews, however, were extremely high compared with other areas, with 81% of patients having face-to-face reviews at least annually.
Joy Watson, from Eccles, campaigns to raise awareness of the lives of people living with ‘young onset dementia’.
Joy was diagnosed with dementia two years ago at the age of 55.
Between her and husband Tony, the two set up Dementia Havens, a group intended to be the first port of call for people living locally with the condition.
She told SalfordOnline.com: “It’s a postcode lottery.
“We’re blessed with Salford Royal with its high profile and high training but some other hospitals might not be up to that standard.”
A founder of Dementia Havens and an ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society, Joy was recently recognised with an honorary doctorate from Salford University.
She added: “On the whole the care is very good – there is just a few points that need addressing.
“The communication is always a problem between staff if notes are not updated.
“It’s not fair that as patients we should keep reminding staff we have dementia.”
Pictures: Joy in Eccles to train Demi, country’s first dementia support dog
Read more: Pop-up pub to open for people with dementia in Salford
In England, 676,000 people live with dementia, a figure set to soar over the next 40 years.
One in ten people who die every year in the United Kingdom live with the degenerative disease.
The financial cost of dementia to the UK is a reported £26 billion pounds per year.
More information on local group Salford Dementia Action Alliance is online here
