Dementia Assessment and Referral data collection – Q3 2016-17

The December 2016 and Quarter 3 2016-17 data for the Dementia Assessment and Referral data collection in England by NHS England were released on 1st March 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 –December 2016

The total number of data returns submitted by NHS Foundation and Non-Foundation Trusts providing acute funded care was 147 in December 2016, compared to 148 in November 2016. There were 3 nil returns, compared to 3 in November. Nil returns are excluded from the results presented below.

Data by Total Patients

1. Overall, 87.3% 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 December 2016, compared to 89.1% in November.
2. Of the patients initially identified or found as potentially having dementia, 92.9% were further appropriately assessed in December 2016, compared with 93.6% in November.
3. Of the patients whose outcome was positive or inconclusive, 94.9% were referred for specialist services in December 2016, compared with 94.2% in November.

Data by Acute Trusts

1. 68.8% (99 trusts) achieved at least 90% in December 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 73.1% (106 trusts) in November.
2. 77.8% (112 trusts) achieved at least 90% in December 2016 in carrying out further appropriate assessments, compared with 80.0% (116 trusts) in November.
3. 77.8% (112 trusts) achieved at least 90% in December 2016 in referring on to specialist services, compared with 75.9% (110 trusts) in November.

80 acute trusts (55.6%) achieved at least 90% in all three measures in December 2016.

Quarterly Publication – Quarter 3 2016/17 (October, November, December combined)

The total number of NHS Foundation and Non-Foundation Trusts providing acute funded care who submitted data returns, in at least one of the months, was 148 in Quarter 3 2016/17, compared to 148 in Quarter 2 2016/17. Three trusts submitted only nil returns, the same as Quarter 2 2016/17. Nil returns are excluded from the results presented below.

Data by Total Patients

1. Overall, 88.7% 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 Quarter 3 2016/17, compared to 89.9% in Quarter 2 2016/17.
2. Of the patients initially identified or found as potentially having dementia, 93.5% were further appropriately assessed in Quarter 3 2016/17, compared with 93.3% in Quarter 2 2016/17.
3. Of the patients whose outcome was positive or inconclusive, 94.6% were referred for specialist services in Quarter 3 2016/17, compared with 94.2% in Quarter 2 2016/17.

Data by Acute Trusts

1. 68.3% (99 trusts) achieved at least 90% in Quarter 3 2016/17 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 71.7% (104 trusts) in Quarter 2 2016/17.
2. 80.7% (117 trusts) achieved at least 90% in Quarter 3 2016/17 in carrying out further appropriate assessments, compared with 83.4% (121 trusts) in Quarter 2 2016/17.
3. 75.2% (109 trusts) achieved at least 90% in Quarter 3 2016/17 in referring on to specialist services, compared with 77.9% (113 trusts) in Quarter 2 2016/17.

83 acute trusts (57.2%) achieved at least 90% in all three measures in Quarter 3 2016/17.

The full data tables and the return guidance can be found on the NHS England website:

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