Strengthening memory assessment services through new multidisciplinary committee
A new committee of dementia specialists, within the Wales Dementia Faculty, has made a significant difference since its introduction last August, with ambitious plans for further developments for the year ahead.
Launched in 2020 to improve the consistency and quality of dementia care, the faculty brings together professionals from health and social care alongside people with lived experience to strengthen learning, share best practice and support the development of patient-centred services across Wales.
Farukh Navabjan, Senior Improvement Manager for the dementia team within NHS Wales Performance and Improvement said: “With dementia remaining a major and complex health and social care challenge in Wales, the faculty’s work aims to reduce inequalities and strengthen professional capability across the system.
“Since setting up the committee with members across various professions including lived experience, a voice has been given to those leading on dementia. For any matters relating to dementia, leaders can approach the committee and get their advice and feedback on new and emerging practice.”
Upcoming developments include:
- Continued delivery of the Diagnosing Dementia programme
- New bespoke training for newly qualified psychologists
- Wider rollout of GP training, following sessions with Taff Ely and Swansea Bay clusters
- Extension of dementia training to community nursing teams and other professions
- A network for the Wales Dementia Faculty has been set up on the Y Ty Dysgu platform to help collaboration and share resources and best practice
The Wales Dementia Faculty was created in response to longstanding variation in how Memory Assessment Services, GP practices and other clinical teams identify and support people with dementia. Its mission is to close these gaps by promoting standardised, evidence-based approaches that meet the needs of Welsh communities.
Since its inception, the faculty has delivered a wide programme of professional development, including:
- Delivering 10 Diagnosing Dementia training cohorts
- Training 162 staff in diagnostic approaches and compassionate care
- Running nine masterclasses led by expert speakers
- Welcoming 20 guest contributors, including researchers, practitioners and those with lived experience
These sessions have helped build confidence, reduced siloed working and created a growing professional community committed to improving dementia pathways. Further masterclasses are planned, alongside renewed efforts to capture impact and build an evidence base demonstrating improvements in practice.
Claire Hardcastle, a specialist speech and language therapist for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is an active member of the faculty and has found the support and guidance beneficial for her patients: “Following the training and support from the faculty, I started to independently deliver diagnostic clinics.
“Supporting patients in this way is significant as within speech and language therapy, there are not many therapists who specialise in dementia so it’s important for colleagues to have access to this multidisciplinary network.
“The faculty has provided me with professional development and secured funding for my role.”
Professionals interested in contributing to the faculty’s work can contact Farukh.Navabjan2@wales.nhs.uk