Dementia and stroke services to be reviewed by Nice

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) has begun its review into the quality of servicers provided in relation to blood clots, strokes and dementia.

Secretary of state for health Andrew Lansley has requested the review, stressing the importance of the new quality guidelines, which would not be targets but evidence-based standards.

These will form the basis of incentive payments for good quality services and regulation via the Care Quality Commission.

Reacting to the news, the Alzheimer's Society said that it was vital that the NHS and local authorities continue to question how services could be improved.

"If used properly, these quality standards could make a huge difference to people with dementia and ensure that the services being designed for them are meeting their needs," said the dementia charity's acting chief executive Ruth Sutherland.

The review is part of a growing movement to ensure public bodies are delivering on dementia at a national and local level, she added.

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