Help is ‘harder to access in rural areas’

CHARITIES HAVE warned of the need for early intervention to help people with dementia after figures revealed that thousands of people are suffering with the condition but have not been diagnosed.

More than 200,000 people aged over 65 in England are estimated to have undiagnosed dementia, meaning they may not have access to vital support.

In Yorkshire and the Humber, the figure is almost 18,000, and diagnosis rates vary between different parts of the region, according to figures from NHS Digital. Bradford has among the highest diagnosis rates in the region, at 82 per cent, compared to just 58.1 per cent in Scarborough and Ryedale, latest figures from December show.

The Department of Health said the national diagnosis rate had risen from 42 per cent in 2010/11 to 68.3 per cent. But with the number of people in the UK living with dementia set to reach a million by 2021, the Government and NHS have been urged to speed up diagnosis rates.

Andrew Boaden, a senior policy officer for the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “The rise in dementia diagnosis rates shown in these new NHS Digital figures is partly because understanding of the condition and its symptoms is improving, thanks to awareness campaigns and dementia-friendly initiatives.

“National monitoring and targets for GPs also play a role.

“However, dementia diagnosis rates vary significantly from place to place, which is concerning. Alzheimer’s Society research shows that over a third of people with dementia in the UK don’t get a formal diagnosis, and we believe everyone with dementia has a right to know.”

Dementia UK’s chief executive, Dr Hilda Hayo, added: “If left undiagnosed and untreated, dementia can be a life-shattering experience for the person living with the condition and their families. The main signs and symptoms to watch out for with dementia include problems following normal routines and difficulties in communicating, as well as changes in behaviour and personality.”

Matthew Burns, a specialist dementia nurse in the Wakefield district, said early diagnosis was recommended to find people the right treatments. He added: “One reason we push for diagnosis for people is that, for somebody with Alzheimer’s, which is about 60 per cent of people with dementia, there are medications which can help with their condition.

“They are not a cure but they can help them manage the symptoms. People may have a better memory and be more confident. They can have a better quality of life for longer.”

People also found it harder to get help from social services without a diagnosis and found it more difficult to come to terms with having the condition.

Mr Burns, who is part of Wakefield’s Admiral Nurse team, added: “People who aren’t diagnosed with dementia find it more difficult to access help. If they want some help from social services or to find out what support there is in their local area, it’s a lot harder without a diagnosis.

“Post-diagnosis, people often find it easier to cope with their condition because they know what they are facing. Often people are worried about their memory and under the surface they are very panicked.

“A lot of people are afraid of getting diagnosed. It’s a vicious cycle they fall into.”

NHS bosses in Wakefield, where the diagnosis rate is 66.6 per cent, said they were working with GPs to help them spot the signs off the condition earlier.

In a statement, a spokesman said: “NHS Wakefield Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is eager to raise awareness, promote positive attitudes, dispel myths, tackle stigma and empower people to play a full and active role in our communities, in turn helping people live well and longer with dementia.”

Training was also being provided for GP practice staff as part of Wakefield’s Dementia Action Alliance. CCG bosses in Leeds said eight new memory clinics were being provided at GP surgeries to assess people for dementia.

A Leeds CCGs Partnership spokesperson said: “Leeds is in a good position with a citywide dementia diagnostic rate of 74.66 per cent compared with the national average of 68.3 per cent. Services are equitable across the whole city. Statistics vary between CCGs only because they reflect the different demographics in those areas.”

People who are worried that a family member may have dementia can call the Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline on 0800 888 6678. WIDE VARIATIONS in dementia diagnosis rates have raised concerns that people in rural communities could be finding it hard to get help.

In Bradford, the rate of diagnosis is about 82 per cent, compared to 58.1 per cent in Scarborough and Ryedale and 60.7 per cent in the Vale of York NHS area.

Helen Benson, Yorkshire Coordinator for the Farming Community Network, a voluntary group which helps farmers with health issues, said: “In remote areas it can be more difficult to access these services.

“In farming communities people are very reluctant to seek help at all, never mind with dementia.

“A dementia diagnosis might mean you can’t drive. There a lot of fear about it. Very often it’s gradual. People kind of ignore it and get on an manage.”

Initiatives to improve access to help in rural North Yorkshire included free health check-ups at markets.

Mrs Benson added: “We all know somebody or have someone in our family who has dementia these days.

“Hopefully more people will access help more readily because of these initiatives.

“It’s very much about the carers as well as the people that have dementia. It can be a very lonely place.”

Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said action to boost diagnosis included free dementia awareness sessions and screening for the condition.

A CCG spokesman said: “NHS Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Group is striving to achieve the national ambition of two thirds of estimated prevalence of people with dementia receiving a diagnosis.”

Vale of York CCG said it had an education programme for GPs to help improve diagnosis rates.

A spokesperson said: “Timely identification of dementia is the first step to provision of meaningful support for the changing needs of the individual and their family and carers.”