Sharp fall in the prescribing of antipsychotics for dementia patients
By Charlotte Fantelli
Nearly three quarters of a million people in the UK live with dementia, it is a growing problem with our ever-ageing population. Mental Healthy has often reported on the care of dementia patients, both on the failings and also on the improvement of dementia services. Today we are pleased to report that there is again a breakthrough in auditing and implementing positive change in care services for this vulnerable group of people.
The Health and Social Care Information Centre' National Summary Report, published today (17th July), shows the number of dementia patients being wrongly prescribed antipsychotic drugs fell dramatically over the past six years.
Toby Williamson, Head of Development and Later Life at the Mental Health Foundation comments "We welcome the fall in prescriptions of antipsychotic drugs for people with dementia"
Mr Williamson, does however point out that there is more that can be done to ensure that quality of care is consistent throughout the UK, as to date it seems to be a 'postcode lottery', he states: "we [Mental health Foundation] are concerned about the wide regional variations. This strongly indicates that some areas are still inappropriately over-prescribing."
The report shows that other types of intervention can be effective and importantly, come with fewer risks or side effects than anti-psychotic medication. Mr Williams sums up: "It shows that other interventions can be used to reduce distress and agitation among people with dementia."
For further information on dementia, please see our dementia section.
