Debate contribution: Dementia Awareness Training

Debate contribution by Mr Mike Nesbitt on 2 June 2026.

MLA: Mr Mike Nesbitt
Party at the time: Ulster Unionist Party
Date: 2 June 2026
Type: Debate contribution (made as a minister)
Business: Oral Answers to Questions
Heading: Dementia Awareness Training
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5584261

Text

The best thing that the Department can do is to ensure that dementia training remains current and aligned with best practice. We do that through collaboration, not least with academia but with clinical experts, and alongside established governance structures. The prevalence of dementia is so high, however, that I would be very surprised if anybody in the health and social care workforce who comes into contact with people with the condition is not keen to keep themselves trained and aware of and up to date with developments in how best to look after those people. It is a massive problem, but there are many areas where the workforce has to be trained up. That is why it is impossible to say that it has to be statutory. However, it is important for many people that staff keep themselves up to speed.

141 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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