Dementia Collaboration Conference sees launch of Wessex dementia timeline

Over 160 delegates representing more than 70 organisations, attended the 2nd Wessex Dementia Collaboration Event in Southampton on 21 October. The conference aimed to showcase work on dementia projects across Wessex, and emphasise collaboration across clinical, community, education, research and social care boundaries. Highlights of the day included John’s Campaign founder, Nicci Gerrard and Hampshire Hospital implementers Rachel Hayden and Alison McGiness. 

The national lead for Older People, Elaine Rashbrook (Public Health England, South), addressed issues in dementia prevention and risk reduction, and Prof Alistair Burns (National Clinical Director for Dementia) discussed the way forward in the national approach to dementia care. Delegates participated in a number of workshops aimed to promote action in dementia care. 

A highlight of the conference was the launch of the Wessex Dementia Timeline by Dr Christopher Kipps, Clinical Director for the Wessex Strategic Clinical Network. The Dementia Timeline was developed by the Wessex SCN as a visual representation of 120 dementia projects submitted by individuals and organisations across the Wessex region. The aim of the timeline is to facilitate dissemination of projects and foster collaborative work across organisations. A series of awards were made for projects on the Dementia Timeline including a Dementia Clinical Director’s choice award which went to Ian Douglas (Southern Health FT) and the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service. The timeline can be viewed at wessexhealthlines.nhs.uk

The conference was arranged by the following Wessex organisations: Strategic Clinical Network (SCN), Academic Health Science Network (AHSN), Public Health England (PHE), Health Education England (HEE), NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) and Wessex NIHR CLAHRC.  Dementia is a high priority for all our organisations due to the year on year increase in the number of people with the condition.  We have a shared ambition to improve the range and quality of services and experience for people living with dementia and their carers. During the conference, delegates pledged 100 actions to complete over the coming year to improve dementia care and in Wessex.

Dr Christopher Kipps

Consultant Neurologist and Honorary Clinical Lecturer