Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Questions are being raised about the government's drive to increase dementia diagnosis rates in England.
Fewer than half of the estimated 670,000 people with dementia have a formal diagnosis, but ministers want to see this rise to two-thirds by 2015.
But a GP writing in the British Medical Journal warned the push could lead to over-diagnosis.
Meanwhile, the Alzheimer's Society said it was being undermined by the lack of support after diagnosis.
There is no cure for dementia, but there is some evidence that access to drug treatment and services, such as memory clinics, and activities such as singing and physical exercise, can help people remain independent for longer.
George McNamara, of the Alzheimer's Society, said: "Demand for post-diagnosis support is already outstripping supply so if we are to cope with the increase in diagnoses, access to these services must be improved.
"But the trouble is the squeeze on funding is making that difficult."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-26841774
I think this is also true of post-diagnosis support for diabetes - so many people are told to eat a healthy diet, given a few pills, and left to get on with it
Fewer than half of the estimated 670,000 people with dementia have a formal diagnosis, but ministers want to see this rise to two-thirds by 2015.
But a GP writing in the British Medical Journal warned the push could lead to over-diagnosis.
Meanwhile, the Alzheimer's Society said it was being undermined by the lack of support after diagnosis.
There is no cure for dementia, but there is some evidence that access to drug treatment and services, such as memory clinics, and activities such as singing and physical exercise, can help people remain independent for longer.
George McNamara, of the Alzheimer's Society, said: "Demand for post-diagnosis support is already outstripping supply so if we are to cope with the increase in diagnoses, access to these services must be improved.
"But the trouble is the squeeze on funding is making that difficult."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-26841774
I think this is also true of post-diagnosis support for diabetes - so many people are told to eat a healthy diet, given a few pills, and left to get on with it
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