A mixed picture of how we care for dementia patients in Wigan

Comprehensive statistics have revealed a mixed picture for how well Wigan supports residents through dementia.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The data from Public Health England (PHE) shows the borough is performing better than the England average in some aspects of caring for people with the devastating memory-loss condition and worse in others.

The borough has considerably higher numbers of older people who have dementia being rushed into hospital than the country-wide average and also has high levels of adults doing little or no exercise, which is a risk factor for developing the condition.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The figures also show that more than one in four over-65s in the borough who are believed to have dementia are not actually diagnosed with the condition, although this is more than in England as a whole.

Prof Kate ArdernProf Kate Ardern
Prof Kate Ardern

The number of dementia patients whose care plan has been reviewed in the last 12 months also dipped slightly in 2018-19 compared to the previous year and Wigan now one of the lowest rates in the entire region for this,

However, the data shows good news when it comes to people living with the condition and being supported.

The quality of residential care and nursing home beds in Wigan for over-65s with dementia was considerably above the England-wide average.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And it was the efforts of the care sector which Wigan Council singled out for praise in its response to the data, saying the borough was near the top of the regional league table for care.

Prof Kate Ardern, the local authority director for public health, said: “The latest PHE data ranks the quality of residential care within Wigan as the fifth best in the north west thanks to a highly-organised delivery plan and fantastic staff across the borough.

“One example being the council owned Heathside which has been rated outstanding by CQC inspectors.

“Reports have continuously highlighted the caring, kind and hard-working attitude demonstrated by all members of staff so families can be assured their loved ones will benefit from an exceptional standard of care around the clock.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The quality rating for residential care in Wigan, taken from Care Quality Commission (CQC) data, was 79.5 per cent, considerably above the North West average of 70.7 per cent.

More concerning is the data about how many people with dementia have had their care plan reviewed in the last 12 months.

The current figure for Wigan, of 74.6 per cent, is the second-worst in the North West, with only Knowsley having a lower rate. The England average stands at 78 per cent.

The number of people in the borough who are over-65 and are recorded as having dementia is 4.24 per cent, or just over three people per 10,000. In both cases that puts Wigan slightly below the average for the whole of England.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, more than a quarter of adults are classed as physically inactive, when PHE says reducing this can help to prevent dementia.

And even though Wigan is doing better for other risk factors, with the number of overweight or obese adults coming down in recent times, Prof Ardern was keen to stress the work being done to promote healthy lifestyles in the borough.

She said: “There are numerous ways in which residents can reduce their chances of getting dementia including keeping active, eating healthily, giving up smoking and exercising your mind.”

The estimated diagnosis rate for dementia among over-65s in Wigan was 73.2 per cent last year, according to NHS Digital data.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

While this is better than England’s average, it is a fraction below the North West level.

Prof Ardern gave a number of explanations of why people with dementia could be slipping under the radar and also urged anyone who thought they recognised symptoms of the condition to seek medical help.

She said: “Wigan has a dementia diagnosis rate of approximately 75 per cent, which fares well among the country and is above average.

“Variations in diagnosis can be people thinking it’s a sign of old age, people not realising there is an issue and also a stigma which is sometimes still attached to dementia.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“But ultimately what’s good for your heart is good for your head. If people have any concerns about their memory they should access their GP.”

More people with dementia in Wigan are experiencing emergency admissions to hospital when they are over 65, with the most recent rate standing at 4,202 per 100,000.

The mortality rate for the borough is also classed as similar to the England average, although it is slightly higher.

This applies both to overall death rates and to the percentage of dementia patients whose lives come to an end in their own homes.

A message from the Editorial Director, Gillian Parkinson:

Thank you for reading this story on our website.

But I also have an urgent plea to make of you.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In order for us to continue to provide high quality local news on this free-to-read site and in print, please purchase a copy of our newspaper as well.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on our town centres and many of our valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you buying a copy when you pop out for your essential shop or subscribing for delivery.

Our journalists are highly trained by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards anywhere in the world. Our content is universally trusted - as all independent research proves.

As Baroness Barran said in a House of Lords debate this week on the importance of journalists: "Not only are they a trusted source of facts, but they will have a role to play in rallying communities and getting the message across about how we can keep ourselves and our families safe, and protect our NHS. Undoubtedly, they have a critical role."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis. In return we will continue to forensically cover the local news - not only the impact of the virus but all the positive and uplifting news happening in these dark days.

We thank all our readers and advertisers for their understanding and support - and we wish YOU all the best in the coming weeks. Keep safe, and follow the Government advice. Thank you.

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE:

You can subscribe for delivery by contacting us at [email protected] or calling us on 0330 4033004 for details of a participating newsagent near you.