title: Inter-professional perspectives of dementia services and care in England: Outcomes of a focus group study.
abstract: Many people living with dementia are supported at home using a variety of health and social care services. This paper reports the findings from a focus group study undertaken with staff in community mental health teams to explore areas for improvement in relation to national policies and recommendations for dementia care. Two focus groups were held with staff (n = 23) in 2011 to discuss topics including service delivery, information and communication, and provision of health and community care for people with dementia. Respondents identified problems with information sharing and incompatible electronic systems; inflexibility in home care services; and poor recognition of dementia in hospital settings. General practitioners had developed a greater awareness of the disease and some community services worked well. They felt that budgetary constraints and a focus on quality indicators impeded good dementia care. Key areas suggested by staff for improvements in dementia care included the implementation of more flexible services, dementia training for health and social care staff, and better quality care in acute hospital settings.
authors.affiliation: Personal Social Services Research Unit, University of Manchester, UK caroline.sutcliffe@manchester.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Caroline L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Sutcliffe
authors.affiliation: Personal Social Services Research Unit, University of Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Rowan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jasper
authors.affiliation: Evidence-based Practice Research Centre, Edge Hill University, UK; Personal Social Services Research Unit, University of Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roe
authors.affiliation: Personal Social Services Research Unit, University of Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jolley
authors.affiliation: Formerly Personal Social Services Research Unit, University of Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crook
authors.affiliation: Personal Social Services Research Unit, University of Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Challis
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D017144:Focus Groups; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D011787:Quality of Health Care
keywords: care services; community mental health team; dementia care; professional staff