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Following a report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) which highlighted failings in the quality of UK care for dementia patients and people using mental health services, there has been a call for improved care training from dementia and age charities.

The CQC Care Update primarily criticised services for people with independent learning disabilities, mental health issues and dementia. The CQC’s chief executive David Behan said:

“The majority of services are delivering good quality care; however care providers must do more to make sure that care is based on people’s individual needs. This care update draws attention to two areas where this is not happening.”

Following this report, the heads of charities such as Dementia UK and Independent Age have called for more to be done to improve the quality of care for dementia patients in this country. Links have been made between unnecessary admissions into hospitals for people with dementia and a lack of care training amongst community teams and care home staff. Some care workers are also finding it a challenge to communicate with someone with dementia who is in pain or has another illness about their symptoms.

Janet Morrison from Independent Age said:

“We consider it shocking that people living with dementia are being admitted to hospital for conditions that should be picked up, treated and even prevented in the first place by better care in the care home.”