Dementia timebomb warning as cases soar
SCOTLAND is heading for a dementia timebomb after a startling rise in prescriptions to treat the condition.
More than 215,000 prescriptions for dementia were handed out last year – a rise of almost 60,000 in two years, according to Scottish Government figures.
In addition, £8.3million was spent on tablets designed to help manage the condition, which is becoming one of the country’s major health and social care challenges.
Campaigners have warned that the number of patients with dementia could soon outstrip the number of people to care for them.
The f i gures r eleased by t he Scottish Tories show that last year,
‘NHS must be properly equipped’
215,358 items were dispensed – 32,000 more than 2012. That means doctors north of the Border are prescribing a pill to deal with conditions such as Alzheimer’s 24 times an hour.
The Tories said the statistics provide ‘evidence on the ground of how the curse of dementia is becoming an increasing problem’.
Tory health spokesman Jackson Carlaw said: ‘With Scotland likely to have a population that ages at a greater rate than the rest of the UK, we need to be ready. The Scottish Government has been warned for some time that this is very much a health and social care timebomb.
‘We need the NHS and local authorities properly equipped now to ensure those suffering from this terrible illness, and their families, can be looked after as well as possible.’
Around 86,000 Scots are being treated for dementia and experts say the number of cases will only increase over time. The country has an ageing population and health chiefs have repeatedly warned about being illprepared for the challenges the rising number of cases will bring.
Half of all care home residents are said to have dementia, while in some of Scotland’s busiest acute hospitals a fifth of patients being treated also suffer from the illness.
Dr Simon Ridley, of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: ‘ While the number of prescriptions for dementia has increased, none of these treatments can delay the onset of dementia or slow the progression.
‘We are investing more than any other UK charity through our Defeat Dementia campaign to fast-track treatment development.’
Charities have recently advocated for additional therapies to be made available to patients.
Carolyne Nurse, director of Nordoff Robbins Scotland, said: ‘We are in no doubt that music therapy can connect with people at any stage of dementia, and help improve their interactions.
‘Music therapy can help dementia sufferers deal with anxiety management, as well as reducing their agitation levels and feelings of isolation. Music therapy should be available to every person who has a diagnosis of dementia.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘The increase in prescription of dementia drugs reflects great progress made towards improving timely diagnosis in Scotland. Scotland’s rate of diagnosis is 20 per cent higher than England and Wales.
‘In a world-leading commitment, everyone in Scotland diagnosed after April 1, 2013, is now guaranteed a year’s dedicated post- diagnosis support by a link worker.
‘We have also developed common standards of care for dementia and a national workforce development programme, including 400 Dementia Champions with another 200 to be trained.’