Dementia Assessment and Referral data collection – Q2 2017-18

The September 2017 and Quarter 2 2017-18 data for the Dementia Assessment and Referral data collection in England by NHS England were released on 6^th December 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 has been 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. Data are not collected from community trusts or CCGs. The acute trusts have maintained a good response rate similar to previous months.

Monthly Publication –September 2017

The total number of data returns submitted by NHS Foundation and Non-Foundation Trusts providing acute funded care was 143 in September 2017, compared to 144 in August 2017. There were 2 nil returns, compared to 2 in August. Nil returns are excluded from the results presented below.

Data by Total Patients

1. Overall, 86.0% 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 September 2017, compared to 87.1% in August.
2. Of the patients initially identified or found as potentially having dementia, 93.1% were further appropriately assessed in September 2017, compared with 94.0% in August.
3. Of the patients whose outcome was positive or inconclusive, 94.7% were referred for specialist services in September 2017, compared with 94.8% in August.

Data by Acute Trusts

1. 69.5% (98 trusts) achieved at least 90% in September 2017 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 67.6% (96 trusts) in August.
2. 73.0% (103 trusts) achieved at least 90% in September 2017 in carrying out further appropriate assessments, compared with 76.8% (109 trusts) in August.
3. 75.2% (106 trusts) achieved at least 90% in September 2017 in referring on to specialist services, compared with 71.8% (102 trusts) in August.

72 acute trusts (51.1%) achieved at least 90% in all three measures in September 2017.

Quarterly Publication – Quarter 2 2017/18 (July, August, Sept 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 146 in Quarter 2 2017/18, compared to 144 in Quarter 1 2017/18. Three trusts submitted only nil returns, compared to 2 in Quarter 1 2017/18. Nil returns are excluded from the results presented below.

Data by Total Patients

1. Overall, 86.7% 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 2 2017/18, compared to 88.5% in Quarter 1 2017/18.
2. Of the patients initially identified or found as potentially having dementia, 93.8% were further appropriately assessed in Quarter 2 2017/18, compared with 94.5% in Quarter 1 2017/18.
3. Of the patients whose outcome was positive or inconclusive, 94.5% were referred for specialist services in Quarter 2 2017/18, compared with 94.0% in Quarter 1 2017/18.

Data by Acute Trusts

1. 66.4% (95 trusts) achieved at least 90% in Quarter 2 2017/18 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 73.2% (104 trusts) in Quarter 1 2017/18.
2. 78.3% (112 trusts) achieved at least 90% in Quarter 2 2017/18 in carrying out further appropriate assessments, compared with 78.2% (111 trusts) in Quarter 1 2017/18.
3. 73.4% (105 trusts) achieved at least 90% in Quarter 2 2017/18 in referring on to specialist services, compared with 70.4% (100 trusts) in Quarter 1 2017/18.

70 acute trusts (49.0%) achieved at least 90% in all three measures in Quarter 2 2017/18.

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

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