Dementia services

Staying in hospital can be an unsettling experience for anyone, and if you're living with dementia you may feel particularly distressed. The change of environment may make you more confused than usual and this can be worrying for both you and your relatives.

It's important that staff are made aware if you have a diagnosis of dementia. This is so we can support you appropriately. We will ask your relative information about you, if you're unable to tell us yourself, so that we can carefully tailor the care you receive.

You're entitled to expect high standards of care and treatment, and to be treated with dignity and respect.

If you would like further advice or support during your hospital stay, please ask the ward to contact the Admiral Nurse or Dementia and Delirium Nurse who can visit you and talk with your relatives.

Our Dementia hubs can support you

Our Dementia hubs run monthly, offering support and information to family, friends, carers and recently diagnised patients. No appointment needed, drop in and visit the team at one of our sites.

Basildon Hospital: The Retreat, first Monday of the month 2pm to 4pm

Broomfield Hospital: The Atrium, last Thursday of the month 11am to 1pm

Southend Hospital: Day Assessment Unit, Prittlewell Building, first Tuesday of the month 9.30am to 11am.

For more information you can email the team: mse.dementiadelirium@nhs.net

We've signed up to the “Dementia Friendly Hospital Charter”. This outlines the high-level principles that people with dementia and their carers can expect when accessing our hospitals. 

We've signed up to the “Dementia Friendly Hospital Charter”. This outlines the high-level principles that a dementia-friendly hospital should provide, making us a dementia-friendly Trust.

We have been awarded 'Working Towards Dementia Friendly Hospitals' status for 2022-23. This is for what we have already achieved, what is in progress, and what we aspire to achieve in relation to dementia care. You can view our action plan here: Dementia Strategy Group Action Plan 2022/23 [docx].

This is Me provides professionals with information about a person with dementia to help enhance the care and support they receive whilst in an unfamiliar environment.

Dementia affects each person differently, so we ask that you and your relative complete this document so that we can get to know them and better understand their needs to provide better personalised care.

• This is Me [pdf] 193KB
• This is Me - letter [doc] 33KB

For help to complete this document, visit https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/publications-factsheets/this-is-me

Anyone can become a Dementia Friend.

A Dementia Friend is someone that learns about dementia so they can help their community. They help people living with dementia by taking action – both big and small!

If you're interested in becoming a Dementia Friend, visit https://www.dementiafriends.org.uk.

We want our patients and their carers to feel confident that they will have a positive, safe experience in our hospitals.

We strive to continually improve our service and your feedback is important in helping us do this.

If you have a few minutes, please complete this short Carers Experience Survey [docx] 121K.