Will the Cabinet Secretary outline how the Welsh Government is working with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to enhance dementia assessment and diagnosis pathways?
We provide £12m to Regional Partnership Boards every year to support the implementation of the Dementia Action Plan and to develop a joint health and social care approach to dementia support. Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s allocation is £2.831m, which includes funding for memory assessment services, dementia connector services and support for staff /learning and development.
Improvement Cymru has been commissioned to deliver a dementia programme which provides support to health and social care, through the established Regional Partnership Boards. The dementia programme has had five work streams, which are aimed at supporting consistent practice and where appropriate a once-for-Wales approach. Improvement Cymru also hosts a number of resources, including its work plan, on its webpages.
A key component of the dementia programme is the establishment of the All Wales Dementia Care Pathway of Standards. The pathway standards were published by Improvement Cymru in 2021, following extensive engagement with people living with dementia, carers, voluntary organisations and health and care professionals. These continue to be implemented through the work streams, with a number focusing on supporting improvements in dementia assessment and diagnosis.