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'Memory clinics' plan on dementia 'Memory clinics' plan on dementia
(about 1 hour later)
The government is set to unveil plans for "memory clinics" to spot and treat dementia, as part of a new strategy. The government has unveiled plans for "memory clinics" to spot and treat dementia, as part of a new strategy.
The clinics will be set up in every English town and doctors will get extra training to recognise early signs, the health secretary is expected to say. The clinics will be set up in every English town and doctors will get extra training to recognise early signs, the health secretary has announced.
The government's five-year dementia strategy for England is in response to rising numbers of dementia sufferers. The government's £150 million five-year dementia strategy for England is in response to the rising dementia toll.
The condition affects some 700,000 people in the UK - a figure that looks set to double in the next 30 years.The condition affects some 700,000 people in the UK - a figure that looks set to double in the next 30 years.
It is predicted that by the next generation dementia could cost the economy £50bn a year.It is predicted that by the next generation dementia could cost the economy £50bn a year.
Although there is no cure for the condition, early intervention can help people live independently for longer.Although there is no cure for the condition, early intervention can help people live independently for longer.
Campaigners welcomed the plans but warned the strategy's success would depend on adequate funding.Campaigners welcomed the plans but warned the strategy's success would depend on adequate funding.
This is a huge opportunity to really bring dementia out of the shadows Neil Hunt, Alzheimer's Society Dementia: Facts and figuresMemory clinic support It is not yet clear how much the measures would cost, but ministers are confident that the project will be funded, and say the new clinics will ultimately save the NHS money. This is a huge opportunity to really bring dementia out of the shadows Neil Hunt, Alzheimer's Society Dementia: Facts and figuresMemory clinic support Ministers are confident that there is enough investment in the strategy - £150 for the first two years - and say the new clinics will ultimately save the NHS money.
Care Services Minister Phil Hope said early diagnosis was key to improving the live of people with dementia, and their families.Care Services Minister Phil Hope said early diagnosis was key to improving the live of people with dementia, and their families.
He said: "It takes on average three years after the disease begins for people to be diagnosed, partly because of the stigma and also a lot of GPs are not trained to spot the early signs.He said: "It takes on average three years after the disease begins for people to be diagnosed, partly because of the stigma and also a lot of GPs are not trained to spot the early signs.
"If you get early diagnosis and early intervention it improves the patient's quality of life, so we are talking about a major roll out of memory clinics. There will be a memory clinic in every town.""If you get early diagnosis and early intervention it improves the patient's quality of life, so we are talking about a major roll out of memory clinics. There will be a memory clinic in every town."
He said the clinics would be "one-stop shops", offering expert assessment, support, information and advice to those with memory problems and their carers.He said the clinics would be "one-stop shops", offering expert assessment, support, information and advice to those with memory problems and their carers.
The clinics could be housed in hospitals, GP surgeries or in the high street, and patients could refer themselves, he added.The clinics could be housed in hospitals, GP surgeries or in the high street, and patients could refer themselves, he added.
In 2007 about 70% of GPs in England had access to a local memory service to which they could refer patients.
Quality of lifeQuality of life
As well as improving diagnosis, the clinics will aim to raise the profile of dementia and improve the quality of treatment.As well as improving diagnosis, the clinics will aim to raise the profile of dementia and improve the quality of treatment.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme Every hospital and care home should have a senior clinician with special responsibility for dementia care to ensure that the needs of people with dementia are addressed, the strategy will say. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme Every hospital and care home should have a senior clinician with special responsibility for dementia care to ensure that the needs of people with dementia are addressed.
In 2007 about 70% of GPs in England had access to a local memory service to which they could refer patients. And there will be "dementia advisers", who will act as a guide to help people with dementia and their families navigate the care and support system throughout their illness.
Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, said: "One in three people over 65 will die with dementia; yet there is a systematic failure to provide good dementia care in the UK. Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, welcomed the strategy saying: "One million people will develop dementia in the next 10 years. This is a momentous opportunity to avert a dementia crisis that could overwhelm the NHS and social care.
"There is a long way to go to drag dementia care out of the dark ages. "There is so much to do. Only a third of people with dementia get a formal diagnosis, denying them vital support. It is essential the strong leadership from the Department of Health continues so that these plans become a reality."
"This is a huge opportunity to really bring it out of the shadows.
"Too often we hear from families left to battle dementia alone."
OmissionsOmissions
Prof Roy Jones, geriatrician and director of the Research Institute for the Care of Older People in Bath, said: "I am concerned about having a memory clinic in every town. I think what we need is a memory assessment service in every major town linked to specialist centres like ours, because diagnosis for something like Alzheimer's isn't the easiest. It is not just doing a simple test and saying you have or haven't got it.Prof Roy Jones, geriatrician and director of the Research Institute for the Care of Older People in Bath, said: "I am concerned about having a memory clinic in every town. I think what we need is a memory assessment service in every major town linked to specialist centres like ours, because diagnosis for something like Alzheimer's isn't the easiest. It is not just doing a simple test and saying you have or haven't got it.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
"All of these things cost money and that is the real issue. Is the money going to come in with the strategy to support what we need to see?""All of these things cost money and that is the real issue. Is the money going to come in with the strategy to support what we need to see?"
Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said the plan was "excellent news" but would not in itself not solve Britain's dementia crisis.Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said the plan was "excellent news" but would not in itself not solve Britain's dementia crisis.
"It is worrying that so little has been done to end the under-funding of dementia research," she said."It is worrying that so little has been done to end the under-funding of dementia research," she said.
"Within a generation, dementia will affect 1.5 million people in the UK, costing our economy £50 billion each year; yet dementia research still receives eight times less government support than cancer research."Within a generation, dementia will affect 1.5 million people in the UK, costing our economy £50 billion each year; yet dementia research still receives eight times less government support than cancer research.
"We need a commitment to a major increase in research funding if we are to defeat dementia once and for all.""We need a commitment to a major increase in research funding if we are to defeat dementia once and for all."
Campaigners are critical that the government's strategy fails to highlight the reported overuse of antipsychotic drugs for dementia patients.Campaigners are critical that the government's strategy fails to highlight the reported overuse of antipsychotic drugs for dementia patients.
The Alzheimer's Research Trust said there was good evidence that the drugs were being used as a "chemical cosh", and urged the government to act on this.The Alzheimer's Research Trust said there was good evidence that the drugs were being used as a "chemical cosh", and urged the government to act on this.
But ministers say the government's review on antipsychotic drugs are due to be published in the spring. But ministers say the government's review on antipsychotic drugs are due to be published in the spring. The strategy does say there will be wider provision of older people's community mental health teams to asses patients in care homes and to help minimise the use of antipsychotic medication.
Are you struggling with dementia? Or does anyone in your family suffer from it? Send us your story using the form below:Are you struggling with dementia? Or does anyone in your family suffer from it? Send us your story using the form below:
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