Dementia Assessment and Referral data collection – November 2016

The November 2016 data for the Dementia Assessment and Referral data collection in England by NHS England were released on 1st February 2017 according to the arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority.

The collection’s purpose is to improve the identification of older patients with dementia and delirium, to monitor appropriate assessment and to prompt appropriate referral and follow up after they leave hospital. Three measures are reported – the number and proportion of patients aged 75 and over admitted as an emergency for more than 72 hours:

1. who have a diagnosis of dementia or delirium or to whom case finding is applied; [Find]
2. who, if identified as potentially having dementia or delirium, are appropriately assessed; [Assess/Investigate], and,
3. where the outcome was positive or inconclusive, are referred on to specialist services. [Refer]

The Dementia Assessment and Referral collection was retired as a CQUIN collection at the start of April 2016 but retained in the standard contract as a mandatory submission for acute trusts. The desired level of performance is at least 90% on each part of the indicator. Measure iii) has changed back to being collected by providers and to its 2014/15 definition. Data are no longer collected from community trusts or CCGs. The acute trusts have maintained a good response rate similar to previous months.

Monthly Publication –November 2016

The total number of data returns submitted by NHS Foundation and Non-Foundation Trusts providing acute funded care was 148 in November 2016, compared to 148 in October 2016. There were 3 nil returns, compared to 4 in October. Nil returns are excluded from the results presented below.

Data by Total Patients

1. Overall, 89.1% of patients aged 75 and over admitted as an emergency for more than 72 hours were initially identified or given case finding for potential dementia in November 2016, compared to 89.7% in October.
2. Of the patients initially identified or found as potentially having dementia, 93.6% were further appropriately assessed in November 2016, compared with 94.0% in October.
3. Of the patients whose outcome was positive or inconclusive, 94.2% were referred for specialist services in November 2016, compared with 94.8% in October.

Data by Acute Trusts

1. 73.1% (106 trusts) achieved at least 90% in November 2016 in carrying out initial identification (using case finding) for potential cases of dementia amongst patients aged 75 and over who were admitted as an emergency for more than 72 hours, compared to 76.4% (110 trusts) in October.
2. 80.0% (116 trusts) achieved at least 90% in November 2016 in carrying out further appropriate assessments, compared with 78.5% (113 trusts) in October.
3. 75.9% (110 trusts) achieved at least 90% in November 2016 in referring on to specialist services, compared with 76.4% (110 trusts) in October.

83 acute trusts (57.2%) achieved at least 90% in all three measures in November 2016.

The full data tables, the return guidance, and a more detailed commentary each quarter, can be found on the NHS England website:

http://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/dementia/