What is the understanding of person - centred care of people with dementia when accessing Accident and Emergency?

Abstract

There are a number of marginalised groups in society and people with dementia are one of these groups. They are the subject of discrimination and are treated with unjust in society in a range of areas. Research has emerged that people with dementia experience inequalities with services and support they receive within health and social care services. There is limited research on people with dementia specifically accessing Accident & Emergency departments (A & E) in the UK which this piece of research focusses on. However there is a range of research that has focused on acute hospital settings which includes A & E where by dementia strategies have been produced to improve the processes and outcomes for people with dementia. This dissertation has examined some of the experiences of people with dementia accessing the NHS A & E service, through the views of staff working in an A & E department and those caring for the person with dementia. A field work study with a methodological qualitative research approach was undertaken by interviewing staff from the A & E department including managers. Also family members/carers of people with dementia were interviewed within a focus group to establish their views when they have supported a family member accessing A & E. It was a conscious decision not to interview people with dementia as this would lend itself to a longitudinal study whereby a rapport could be built up with the person with dementia instead of single "one off" interviews. The findings of the research were constructed into themes and discussion areas regarding dignity, respect and treating the person with dementia as an individual first and foremost. The research findings highlighted areas for further research which could improve both the processes and outcomes for the individual with dementia accessing A & E. This would include interviewing people with dementia to gain more in depth qualitative data to improve outcomes for those with dementia and their families/carers.