NEW measures are being put into place to ensure older patients admitted to hospital in Worcestershire are assessed to determine whether or not they have dementia as quickly as possible.

According to rules agreed with other health organisations in the county any patients aged 75 and older admitted to Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Kidderminster Hospital or Redditch’s Alexandra Hospital must be assessed for dementia within 72 hours.

Speaking at a meeting of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust – which runs the three hospitals – last week, associate non-executive director Julian Bion said this target was only being met in about 40 per cent of cases, which he branded “unsatisfactory”.

The assessment includes simple mental tests such as asking patients the name of the Prime Minister but doctors have expressed concern about the level of paperwork involved, slowing the process down.

Measures which are to be put in place include training junior doctors to carry out the assessments and streamlining documentation.