Hopefully, you have not found the dementia elements of the 18/19 QEF too burdensome. Progress with its dementia requirements is being monitored at a practice level. To assist you further, a reminder of the “ABCD of Dementia Diagnosis” guide is enclosed.
You may also want to run a search on patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment, to see if any have deteriorated since last reviewed by CPFT, and whether that diagnosis has now become one of dementia? Similarly, from evidence in other local geographies, reviewing your dementia coding for any inaccuracies would be particularly beneficial.
I have a list of the identified Dementia Clinical Leads from each practice for QEF purposes, and will contact some of them individually to establish if there is more help that can be given in this area.
On a wider note, the potential development of Primary Care Networks is a prospect that offers an opportunity of managing dementia in a different way, which could be one of the roles of these networks.
As referred to in previous bulletins, the Alzheimer’s Society website contains a wealth of dementia diagnosis support tools specifically for use by clinicians in Primary Care, including the DiADeM (Diagnosing Advanced Dementia Mandate) at:
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/info/20136/resources_for_gps/515/resources_for_gps
It has been drawn to your attention before too that the “Keep Your Head” website (http://www.keep-your-head.com/adults) developed by local NHS, voluntary sector and Local Authority organisations provides a central hub of quality information on mental health and mental health services.
Do take advantage of these available resources.
In future, I'd like to improve on our dementia care plans as part of the "Living Well" agenda… more on this soon.
Should you have any queries/comments at all, then as always, I’d be happy to hear from you.
Once again, thanks for all your efforts, and for your time.
Best wishes
Dr Malav Bhimpuria.
MB BS BSc (HONS) FRCGP DCH DRCOG PCMedEd.
GP Principal.
Clinical Lead, Older People's Mental Health, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group
