GPs Require Extra Funding To Hit Government's Dementia Targets

The RCGP has warned that GPs need extra funding to hit the Government's dementia diagnosis targets and patients must not have early diagnoses ‘forced’ upon them.

In an article for the Pulse website RCGP Chair Professor Clare Gerada said some patients will find it distressing to receive an early diagnosis and should not be cajoled into having assessments.

Her comments followed Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt’s call to increase ‘shockingly low’ dementia diagnosis rates in England from 45% to 66% by 2015.

The RCGP has backed the Government’s subsequent drive - announced earlier this week - to boost dementia diagnosis rates by 50% and Professor Gerada said: "GPs are committed to improving the care we provide to patients with dementia - and we acknowledge that earlier and more accurate diagnosis can enable people with dementia and their families to make more informed choices and decisions about their future care, whilst they still have the capacity to do so."

GPs have been offered a controversial DES - for dementia case-finding - that will involve practices opportunistically offering an assessment for dementia to ‘at-risk’ patients during routine consultations.

For further details please read the RCGP backs drive to boost dementia rates by 50% news article on the Pulse website.

Dementia is currently an increasingly important issue in Wales as well and there are currently just over 42,700 people living with the condition across the country.

This has recently led to the creation of the National Dementia Vision for Wales which provides a long-term vision to ensure  Wales can best meet the challenge of this increasing number of people living with dementia within our borders.

If you have any questions about WaMH in PC's work with dementia in Wales please contact us via email at lhills@rcgp.org.uk or on 029 2050 4516.