RCGP response to National Audit Office report Improving
services and support for people with dementia
Professor Mayur Lakhani, Chair of the Royal College of General
Practitioners (RCGP), says:
“As a practising GP, I have seen first hand
the distressing nature of dementia and its devastating impact not
only on the patient, but also their family.
“GPs are on the side of patients here but are
hampered by a lack of good and readily available services for
patients and carers, which is the real issue.
“We disagree with the report’s interpretation
that GPs’ own attitudes are a barrier to better care. We think this
is overstating the case. GPs maintain a register of patients with
dementia and use memory tests where this is clinically indicated,
but dementia poses particular diagnostic challenges in the early
stages.
“However, we agree that the health and social
care system collectively needs to do much more and that there is
considerable scope for improvement. The RCGP will be studying the
recommendations of this report carefully and will take steps to
improve educational and clinical support for GP practices through
its Continuing Professional Development scheme, which will cover
important topics including dementia, and also through its newly
established Clinical Innovation and Research Centre.”
Ends
For more information please contact Lorna Fletcher in the RCGP
press office on 020 7344 3136 / press@rcgp.org.uk