As some of you know my Dad was diagnosed with dementia just over 12 months ago. At first we went with a private consultant (long story) and because of this were told that we would not get the help of the mental health team : CPN and so on.
We then changed to the NHS consultant and expected an army of help, but after the first appointment with the consultant, nothing. Just an appointment for 10 months time in July.
Since then we have had a few traumas and requested an urgent appointment and were given one for November. This was then put back to December, then to the 3rd January and then just before Christmas this appointment was cancelled until May!
On Tuesday we had another incident, nothing too serious, just challenging behaviour but my Mum is getting to the end of her tether and we went to see the GP who said she would see what she could do. We didn't hold out much hope but lo and behold she rang on Wednesday to say we had an appointment for today!
Following advice on TP I wrote the consultant a letter describing the challenging behaviour so that I wouldn't have to say this in front of my Dad. I also asked in the letter why we hadn't had an assessment (something I would have known nothing about save for TP).
I didn't have chance to get the letter to the consultant before the appointment and hoped to ask the receptionist to pass it to him before we went in. We arrived 10 minutes before the appointment and time and were shown straight through!! Last time we waited up to an hour and the time before that we were told that the appointment had been cancelled because we were under the private consultant and sent away! I stayed behind and demanded an explanation and was eventually seen 2 hours later when I was told we weren't entitled to any help.
The appointment today didn't start too well as it wasn't the consultant we had seen last time which was a bit of a surprise but understandable as it was an urgent appointment. We handed him the letter which he put on one side. He started with asking my Dad a few questions some of which he could answer and some he couldn't. The doctor then turned to me and in hushed tones told me my Dad had dementia (no!), that he would only deteriorate (never!) and that in all probability he would end up in a home!
At this point I said I didn't think he should speak like that in front of my Dad. "Why? Can he understand me?"
I asked that he read the letter, which he then did, carefully, making notes as he did so. At the end of it he said "Right I'm arranging a CPN an OT to carry out the assessment...". He also suggested a sedative that we can give my Dad as and when he gets agitated and which he assured us will calm him down in about half an hour (I had put in the letter that we were reluctant for my Dad to be prescribed a permanent sedative). I think the drug was Olanzapine but as I was just getting back up off the floor at this point I'm not sure. He asked if we were agreeable? Well, we'll give it a go. He asked if he could add my letter to my Dad's notes.
At the end he asked that I stay behind and asked me again if I was happy with what he was proposing. He also asked if we had arranged Power of Attorney for my Dad.
As I came out my Dad was waiting and he said "I hope you told him he was useless"
My Dad has gone out tonight to his golf club's annual dinner (boys-only do) where hopefully he will be looked after.
So thank you to TP for all your help and guidance. I just hope the support materialises.
We then changed to the NHS consultant and expected an army of help, but after the first appointment with the consultant, nothing. Just an appointment for 10 months time in July.
Since then we have had a few traumas and requested an urgent appointment and were given one for November. This was then put back to December, then to the 3rd January and then just before Christmas this appointment was cancelled until May!
On Tuesday we had another incident, nothing too serious, just challenging behaviour but my Mum is getting to the end of her tether and we went to see the GP who said she would see what she could do. We didn't hold out much hope but lo and behold she rang on Wednesday to say we had an appointment for today!
Following advice on TP I wrote the consultant a letter describing the challenging behaviour so that I wouldn't have to say this in front of my Dad. I also asked in the letter why we hadn't had an assessment (something I would have known nothing about save for TP).
I didn't have chance to get the letter to the consultant before the appointment and hoped to ask the receptionist to pass it to him before we went in. We arrived 10 minutes before the appointment and time and were shown straight through!! Last time we waited up to an hour and the time before that we were told that the appointment had been cancelled because we were under the private consultant and sent away! I stayed behind and demanded an explanation and was eventually seen 2 hours later when I was told we weren't entitled to any help.
The appointment today didn't start too well as it wasn't the consultant we had seen last time which was a bit of a surprise but understandable as it was an urgent appointment. We handed him the letter which he put on one side. He started with asking my Dad a few questions some of which he could answer and some he couldn't. The doctor then turned to me and in hushed tones told me my Dad had dementia (no!), that he would only deteriorate (never!) and that in all probability he would end up in a home!
At this point I said I didn't think he should speak like that in front of my Dad. "Why? Can he understand me?"
I asked that he read the letter, which he then did, carefully, making notes as he did so. At the end of it he said "Right I'm arranging a CPN an OT to carry out the assessment...". He also suggested a sedative that we can give my Dad as and when he gets agitated and which he assured us will calm him down in about half an hour (I had put in the letter that we were reluctant for my Dad to be prescribed a permanent sedative). I think the drug was Olanzapine but as I was just getting back up off the floor at this point I'm not sure. He asked if we were agreeable? Well, we'll give it a go. He asked if he could add my letter to my Dad's notes.
At the end he asked that I stay behind and asked me again if I was happy with what he was proposing. He also asked if we had arranged Power of Attorney for my Dad.
As I came out my Dad was waiting and he said "I hope you told him he was useless"
My Dad has gone out tonight to his golf club's annual dinner (boys-only do) where hopefully he will be looked after.
So thank you to TP for all your help and guidance. I just hope the support materialises.