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January 2007 saw the start of the National Council for Palliative Care’s new two year dementia project to promote increased and better quality palliative care for people living with dementia. NCPC’s mission is to ensure that all those who need palliative care have access to appropriate services regardless of diagnosis or care setting. NCPC has been looking extensively at the specific needs of people with dementia as a particularly disadvantaged group for access to palliative care.

Lloyds TSB Foundations are funding the dementia project which will be managed by Alison Blight. The funding recognises the need to extend NCPC’s emerging work on the palliative care needs of people with dementia. This includes the recent publication 'Exploring Palliative Care for People with Dementia', followed by two highly successful workshops in October 2006 and January 2007.

Working Arrangements
NCPC’s Older People’s Policy Group has overall responsibility for the dementia project and it has approved the formation of a Dementia Working Group (DWG) to steer direction of the work. A wider reference group will ensure access to specialised advice. The project will be highly collaborative; NCPC will work closely with other national bodies with expertise and knowledge in the area.

Project Objectives
The DWG had its first meeting on 23 February 2007 and terms of reference were agreed for the project. The objectives are to:
• map current provision of palliative care services for people with dementia
• highlight gaps in provision within different care settings
• understand user and carers’ needs of palliative care services, including marginalised and diverse groups
• identify and share notable practice
• develop practical guidance to promote palliative care for people with dementia.

Innovative local practice
NCPC has developed a template to record examples of innovative practice in meeting the palliative care needs of people with dementia. We would like you to use the link to provide NCPC with information about good local practice in different care settings

Briefing Bulletin
As the project gathers pace, the first briefing bulletin is due for publication this summer.

If you want to find out more about the project contact Alison Blight at the NCPC or visit NCPC’s website