UK programme improves the effectiveness of memory services
Thursday 14 June 2012
The UK Memory Services National Accreditation Programme (MSNAP) aims to assess standards in memory services for people with dementia and to provide the services that meet the standards with accreditation from the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
MSNAP also provides support and encouragement so that services are constantly improving and striving towards higher standards. The ultimate objective is to improve the quality of care and support for both people with dementia and their carers.
Professor Martin Orrell, University College London and North East London Foundation Trust and Chair of MSNAP, explains below how the programme was created and how it continues to grow.
The quality and characteristics of memory services can vary greatly both within the UK and across Europe. National quality standards for memory services were developed through a process which involved a literature review and content analysis, a stakeholder workshop and consultations, a consensus meeting and, finally, a consultation process obtaining endorsements from key organisations.
Thirteen memory services participated in the pilot programme using draft set of standards through the processes of self review and peer review. The pilot stage highlighted common areas where improvements had been made, such as finding out whether the patient wished to know their diagnosis, and areas where attention was still required, for example surveying referrers, patients and carers about their experiences of the service.
The MSNAP programme consists of 148 quality standards covering: management; resources for assessment and diagnosis; processes of assessment and diagnosis; and ongoing care management, research and follow up. The MSNAP programme is achieving recognition beyond the UK with presentations at recent international conferences in Greece and Germany and an academic paper on the standards development process.
Fifty two services have now joined the MSNAP network and through his Challenge on Dementia, the UK Prime Minister recently endorsed the standards, and called for more services to join the MSNAP programme which will drive up the quality of UK memory services.