Improving diagnosis of dementia

Nick Cartmell

Whats the problem?

Actual prevalence Estimated prevalence Diagnosis rate England/Wales v Scotland/N Ireland Confounding factors New prevalence calculator

Why is this important?

Explain the problem Allow for early, or later, interventions

Enable forward planning

Improve patient access to local dementia services Make other health & social care colleagues aware Good practice National objective

The Barriers to overcome

Perceived stigma
Lack of education/knowledge

Lack of confidence
Therapeutic nihilism

Drug efficacy
Non-drug intervention value

How do we improve?

GP education: the value of diagnosis, tips for

management, lack of real stigma

Make sure GP registers are accurate:

Rationalise specialist diagnosis lists & QOF registers
Search for uncoded patients Clarify which codes work for primary and secondary care

Check care home residents

How do we improve?

Case find:
post-CVA, MI, head injury people with learning difficulties, Parkinsons

Clear pathways of care: from pre-diagnosis to

end of life care, for person with dementia and carers

Practical support for primary care:

community services for dementia

Take-home

Diagnosis is important The steps to improving the numbers are easy The benefits to people living with dementia are large Services must be in place for those diagnosed

Thank you for listening..

www.dementiapartnerships.org.uk
-Paper on community dementia support services -Paper on GP education strategy - 10 Key Steps for General Practice

www.qihub.scot.nhs.uk
- HEAT programme

Nick - nickcartmell@nhs.net