3. Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Update on the Dementia Action Plan

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:46 pm on 14 May 2019.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 3:46, 14 May 2019

Thank you for the questions and comments. I think, turning to your point about GP clusters first, I think that, when we consider the action that's been taken through the regional partnership boards that we're looking to promote, lots of that activity is taking place within primary care. So, having more GP-led memory clinics and the focus on diagnosis needs to be accompanied by an improvement in the quality of care that is then provided, rather than simply improving the diagnosis rate and then not providing the service wrapped around that person and how they live their life. So there's an awful lot of focus on that. And this is standard business for our health service. It's not an additional add-on or a niche area of specialist activity. The numbers of people living with dementia will only increase in years to come, so better management of the condition and better identification is central to that, and without an active GP community, we're unlikely to realise a number of the ambitions within the plan.

I'm really pleased to hear that you and your office are dementia friends, and that's part of the awareness raising, the leadership and people recognising and saying out loud, 'I'm a dementia friend, I think you should be too.' And asking that question as we go about our business is part of doing so. But, to get from where we were, where we had 120,000 dementia friends in Wales, and then in the last year to get to 158,000 does show there is a developing and increasing level of awareness. And, as I said, I think that we all have an individual stake in needing to do that, and I think it'd be a really proud moment for Wales if we were able to be the first dementia-friendly parliament within the UK and beyond.

On your point about technology and activity, and lots of it is what I've seen within care homes and beyond, technology is being used really positively to help people exactly as you say, with hobbies and activities. There's lots of activity around music, but actually just on storing and reminding people of memories and the understanding of how we can make it easier for people to access those memories are things that actually continue to bring great joy to people's lives, not just the person themselves, but actually their family and friends around them as well. So, I'm interested not in just seeing the whole range of different activities but actually how we can try and understand which ones we think can help to make the biggest difference and, at the same time, how we can make sure that who that person is is reflected in those memories, rather than saying you're only allowed to have a photo book or to go and sing, because for lots of people like me—I love singing. Others may not like listening to it, but I love singing. And on a recent visit to west Wales, I looked again at how they had a range of singing activities for individuals that was making a big difference to people, but there are others who may not find that appealing at all, so we've got to think again about what matters to that person. 

And I want to end on your point about the occupational therapy team in Ysbyty Cwm Cynon. I, too, had the pleasure of visiting them to meet the team and some of the people who are living with dementia who came into Ysbyty Cwm Cynon for the afternoon to explain how their work had made a difference to them. And there's a point there about the earlier we understand someone's needs, the earlier we can intervene and support them to retain more of what matters and is important to them. There is learning to be taken from across Cwm Taf Morgannwg, a real example of good practice that others should learn from across the service. And I'm happy to say that they've built in evaluation and research into the work that they're doing. So they won't just be able to say, 'We think we're doing the right thing', they'll have an evidence base to talk to the rest of the health board and, indeed, the rest of the NHS and wider family on how to make a real difference for people living with dementia.