Local people invited to speak out about dementia services
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and NHS Calderdale, among other organisations, are inviting local people to a special dementia workshop from 10.00am – 12.00 noon on Wednesday 17th June at The King’s Centre in Halifax.
The workshop is being run by the Calderdale Dementia Network, which is a group of people with a shared interest in developing services for people with dementia and their carers. They also influence decisions made locally to make sure people with dementia and their carers get the care and support they need. The network is informal but includes representatives from South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, NHS Calderdale, and Calderdale Council Social Services Department, as well as local voluntary groups including Age Concern and the Alzheimer’s Society.
The workshop will be based on the National Dementia Strategy which was released in February by the Department of Health to improve services for people with dementia and their carers. The purpose of the workshop is to look at current services provided in Calderdale for people with dementia and how they could be improved to protect the dignity of those who use them. The workshop will aim to tackle the following questions: • What can local organisations do to protect and support people with dementia? • How can we make sure that in Calderdale more people get a timely diagnosis and therefore the right kind of care? • How can we ensure services in Calderdale provide the right type of care at the right time that maintains their dignity?
The morning session which is open to the general public will focus on raising awareness of dementia and reducing stigma and will give all who attend an opportunity to have their say.
Chair of the Dementia Network Ben Boyd who works for South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said "The workshop will be about working with the community to identify what changes need to be made to achieve the aims of the National Dementia Strategy. It will also give local people the chance to be kept informed, be actively involved and feel confident that the services we already have are working well."
Anyone interested in attending the workshop should contact Janet Blackler on 01422 281567 to book a place.
Ends For more information contact Emma Dakers, Public Relations, South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust on 01924 327055 or emma.dakers@swyt.nhs.uk