FEW could argue with the Scottish Government’s target for providing post-diagnostic support for anyone diagnosed with dementia.
Medically, dementia is viewed as a terminal illness, but even without that, most patients would view a diagnosis as devastating news. Given the variation in the rates at which the disease may progress, and the likely implications in terms of long-term care needs, patients and their families can benefit enormously from information and advice at an early stage.
The Scottish Government’s goal was for everyone diagnosed with the disease to be offered up to a year’s support from the date at which it was identified. Every patient was supposed to get a link worker by 2015-16 to ensure this is delivered. But the figures point to this target being badly missed. Although the latest statistics, published this week, were for 2014/2015, they showed that by then only 40 per cent of patients were even being referred for post-diagnostic support and of those, only 27 per cent continued with the support for a year.
Age Scotland points out that we need to know more about why this is. Maybe the support being offered by those link workers who are available is so good that a full 12 months isn’t needed.
But there is also a need to find out why so many health boards are failing to provide the support people need to come to terms with their condition, manage their symptoms and make a plan for the future. Introducing such an ambitious policy at the same time as social care is being transferred to the integration joint boards bringing together health and social services was particularly bold, and ministers will want to look at whether the simple demands of establishing these bodies has impeded the development of services.
It is also worth pointing out that some medics fear early diagnosis and even overdiagnosis of dementia may be a problem. A guideline from the medicines watchdog the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network on the diagnosis and management of dementia was withdrawn last June as it was over 10 years old. It has yet to be replaced. In that context it seems particularly vital patients receive as much information and guidance as possible, as soon as possible.
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