Nurses: greater investment in dementia needed

Published: 14 January 2010

Commenting on the National Audit Office report Improving dementia services in England – an interim report, Janet Davies, Executive Director of Nursing and Service Delivery at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said:

“It is deeply concerning that dementia care is still not getting the attention and investment it needs. In the absence of a cure, this devastating condition is likely to affect increasing numbers of people in years to come and must be seen as a priority.

 “Training and education for healthcare staff working in all settings is vital if meaningful improvements for dementia patients are to be made. Greater investment is also needed for specialist dementia nurses, who provide support for dementia patients, their carers and families.

"The Department of Health’s National Dementia Strategy has the potential to significantly improve the lives of the millions of people affected by this debilitating condition. It is essential that there is sufficient investment to ensure these much-needed improvements are made.”

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Notes for Editors

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Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.