Scottish Dementia Working Group - Run by people with dementia

28th November, 2008 Jenny Posted in News | No Comments »

What you need to know about the GP contract in relation to dementia care

Presentation by Dr Ken O’Neill GP (NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde)

Dr O’Neill speaks at the SDWG AGM

It’s a brave GP who agrees to speak at an SDWG AGM – many members still find their GP wanting in terms of getting the service they expect. But what should you expect? What is the dementia Register? What should be included in a review? Dr O’Neill tried to answer some of these questions. If you remember POINTS MAKE PRIZES you’ll not go far wrong.

• GP contract introduced 2004 with 3 components: – services, enhanced services and services paid for by Health Boards. Geared to reqrd quality by measuring service against the Quality & Outcome Framework.. Practice income is linked to the number of points earned.
• Dementia care accounts for 20 points out of total of 950. Practice gets 5 points for each person registered and 15 points for each person reviewed.
• Register is seen as essential in planning care – you need to know how many people have dementia. GP can diagnose themselves – does not have to be consultant only diagnosis.
• Once on register you should received at least 1 review every 15 months
• Review should include: full mental and physical assessment, provision of information, assessment of impact on carer, referral on to specialist or other service if needed.
• Can be carried out by Dr or nurse (you can ask for GP if this is not offered)
• Guidance is not defined in detail, wide variety of interpretation which is why there is such a wide variety of experience.
• HEAT targets will require an increase in the number of people diagnosed.
• We heard about the CARD project run by the practice who employed a dementia care

co-ordinator. Provided a good cost effective service to people worried about whether they had dementia.

Members points:

• People are not aware of having any review
• Some reviews carried out without person’s knowledge when they make a routine visit. A tick box exercise – no involvement from person
• Carers assessment might be missed if they do not attend with person
• No guidance on what information should be handed out – some people still get none
• Review doesn’t focus on what you can do, want to do or maintaining your social and leisure networks. Sometimes assumed dementia means you can do very little.
• 1 person gets excellent review 4 times a year – guidance should be tightened to ensure that everyone gets an equally good experience from their annual review.
• Members were able to update Dr Neill about HEAT targets having recently attended the Dementia Refernce Group. They also told him that no GPs come to this group and they are therefore missing an opportunity to put a point of view at this shared meeting.

Dr Neill’s presentation was very clear but as the Chairman summarised there were many more questions to be asked and much more the group needed to do to campaign for an improved experience for all.