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The East Dunbartonshire Advisory Clinic Model: Better outcomes for people affected by dementia

Outcomes

The new service delivery model created with third sector partners is already having very positive results.  By harnessing resources East Dunbartonshire Council and Community Health Partnership are now able to:

  • avoid several organisations and bodies overlapping and all putting much needed resource into the same tasks on an individual basis;
  • draw on greater capacity and resources collectively through partners than were available in-house; 
  • test a model of service that is much more flexible and capable of responding to the needs of older people; and
  • take a longer-term perspective on what is a key service challenge for the Council and partners. 

The more collaborative approach to the service means that the customer receives the best range of information from the specialist services to cater for the multifaceted needs that dementia brings to people and their families. Qualitative feedback around the experience of care has been gathered with positive feedback.

Through working with people with dementia the service promotes self management at an early stage of the condition, more confident carers and anticipatory planning to avoid unnecessary crisis. This contributes to a more efficient use of existing service and avoids additional costs that arise from emergencies. 

Practically, the enhanced service has also helped to reduce the number of bed days in hospital. For example, the number of people with dementia delayed in hospital has been reduced. There have been no delays as a result of Adults with Incapacity issues for over six consecutive months for people with dementia. This can be evidenced through Delayed Discharge reporting mechanisms.

The savings made by each organisation can then be used in other ways to develop new and innovative ways of working. An example of this reallocation of resources is a project developed by East Dunbartonshire Council where people with dementia in care settings are engaged with tablet personal computers to promote self-expression, target loneliness and stay connected to the community. 

About this case study
Main Contact

Julie Christie
Partnership Lead for Dementia
East Dunbartonshire Council

julie.christie@
eastdunbarton.gov.uk

Julie Christie wrote this case study for Governance International in September 2013.

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