I managed to get an appointment with my mums GP as I was concerned about a couple of health issues and her mental deterioration. She was discharged from the memory clinic around 3 years ago saying she was stable! Yes, I know. The doctor has put in an urgent referral and I have to take her for a blood test when the results will be sent to the clinic. The doctor was totally unconcerned about the other health issues and from what she said it seems the specialist at the clinic will look at Mum's health as a whole! From what I remember from her visits years ago all that happened consisted of asking her 10 questions and asking my dad some questions separately. So after the memory clinic discharging her and telling us it was her doctor who would be responsible for her welfare (it never happened) she is now being passed back. Any advice or experiences which might enlighten me. Thanks in advance.
Care at the memory clinic
- Thread starter Ramblingrose
- Start date
From my experience with my wife once the memory clinic were satisfied that the medications they prescribed her weren't causing any problems ( I think they monitored her for about a year) they then handed over to the Gp as she was "stable" . After this there was virtually no input from the GP, the the annual review was little more than a rubber stamping exercise. If ever she had any problems the GP consistently failed to look at things in the context of her dementia. Last year when there were significant problems and I tried to argue the point that a particular problem was dementia related I was told by the GP "I don't deal with the dementia" !
I contacted the memory service myself and they accepted a self referral back to them. After a reassessment medication was changed and memory service also arranged a referral the community mental health team.The nurse specialist from the memory service continued to stay in touch from that time up until the time that D eventually moved into residential care last month. Your experience with the GP seems to be much the same as mine.
I contacted the memory service myself and they accepted a self referral back to them. After a reassessment medication was changed and memory service also arranged a referral the community mental health team.The nurse specialist from the memory service continued to stay in touch from that time up until the time that D eventually moved into residential care last month. Your experience with the GP seems to be much the same as mine.
I'm afraid that's about par for the course. But I disagree with your GP about other health issues - that is very much his/her job - is there a different GP at the practice who might have more of a clue? The memory clinic mainly do diagnosis of dementia. The consultant said to me, 'Nothing can be done,' and I'd already moved mum to a care home so that was that. She saw the care home's designated GP once a year who said, 'Yes, she's worse, isn't she?' Well, no s**t, Sherlock!
Nobody was even slightly interested in her progress/deterioration because as the GP also helpfully told me, 'With dementia, you get worse and then you die'. Which is exactly what happened to mum.
Nobody was even slightly interested in her progress/deterioration because as the GP also helpfully told me, 'With dementia, you get worse and then you die'. Which is exactly what happened to mum.
Thanks for all the replies. It is pretty much as I thought then. I'm not happy with the lack of concern over the health issues. The doctor told me nothing could be done about the dementia but I'm hoping the clinic may give something to quieten her down a bit. Hopefully some sort of referral to a mental health nurse for example. Honestly we have just been left to struggle and find any help on our own. God Bless our NHS! My parents had worked all their lives and now get nothing in return. Makes my blood boil.
