Dementia training 'should be provided for all nurses'

A leading dementia charity is calling for all nursing staff to receive adequate training in dementia care.

Up to a quarter of hospital beds are occupied by people with dementia at any one time, but they are often leaving with worse symptoms than when they went in, according to the Alzheimer's Society.

Yet the charity claims it is regularly told by nurses that they have not received enough training in dealing with people with dementia.

As the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) closes its consultation period, the Alzheimer's Society wants it to make dementia training mandatory for all student nurses.

Andrew Chidgey, head of policy and public affairs for the charity, said: "The NMC must recommend that all student nurses receive training that equips them to provide the best dementia care possible.

"The draft standards can also be strengthened to help ensure that dementia training is in all university curriculums."

There are currently around 820,000 people living with dementia in the UK, according to the Alzheimer's Research Trust.

Read more about Barchester's dementia care homes.