Dementia care 'will be a top priority for Scotland'

Dementia care will be a top priority in Scotland, claims the country's health secretary Nicola Sturgeon.

Work to improve standards of care for older people across Scotland will be led by Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the Scottish Government's chief nursing officer.

The pledge accompanies the publication of a new National Dementia Strategy and a dementia skills framework to promote excellence across care providers.

Ms Sturgeon noted: "Quality, compassionate care for older people that protects their dignity and independence, is one of the most sacred duties of any civilised society.

"We must do it well for every older person on every occasion, in care homes and in hospitals."

Ministers in England are also pressing for substantial changes to the way people with dementia are cared for.

Earlier this week, care services minister Paul Burstow called for a review of how anti-psychotics are used to treat patients.

More than 50 health and social care organisations are also calling for action over prescriptions for dementia patients.

Find out about dementia care and support services at Barchester care homes.