Private assessment
- Thread starter GeorgeIP
- Start date
Hello @GeorgeIP, welcome. I have no idea about costs or how to go about something like this but I would say that a diagnosis does not actually make a huge difference in the first instance. Providing your GP has ruled out all other causes of memory loss then waiting will not create any further problems. Depending on the kind of dementia you wife may be diagnosed with there is very little in the way of medication that will be prescribed and unless you are struggling with her care needs, service will not see a need to become involved. Maybe it is better to keep your money for another time. This is just my opinion however, you may feel very differently and that is absolutely fine. Things you could do now would be to get LPA for finance and health and welfare sorted, get your wills drawn up and familiarise yourself with how the various types of dementia progress so you are prepared for the future if and when your wife gets a diagnosis. Just recently I read on here that dementia is a marathon not a sprint, this is very true indeed.
Please come on here and have a read of the various forums and ask any questions you have, we are all happy to offer our input.
Please come on here and have a read of the various forums and ask any questions you have, we are all happy to offer our input.
Agree with @SAP
If you decide to go private you could ask GP for a referral.
Consultant cost is likely to be £100 - £200, the GP may be able to give a better indication.
Alliance Medical operate several NHS diagnostic centres around the country, they also do private work in the centres, scroll down to get some idea of cost of scan, image, and report,
www.alliancemedical.co.uk
If you decide to go private you could ask GP for a referral.
Consultant cost is likely to be £100 - £200, the GP may be able to give a better indication.
Alliance Medical operate several NHS diagnostic centres around the country, they also do private work in the centres, scroll down to get some idea of cost of scan, image, and report,
Private Patients
www.alliancemedical.co.uk
Hi @IanMetherell
You don't have to wait for a formal diagnosis to apply for and obtain Attendance Allowance, as it depends on the help your wife might need. Apply straight away, if you haven't already. Forms online, I think. If you need help with the form ask either the local CAB or Age UK.
As your GP knows the position, hopefully he doesn't have to wait for a formal diagnosis to prescribe one of the usual drugs to help slow down dementia deterioration.
These are only prescribed for people with Alzheimers and it needs to be initially prescribed by the doctor in the memory clinic - the GP won't prescribe things like this off his/her own back.
I agree, though, @GeorgeIP that you can apply for Attendance Allowance without a diagnosis and you can also ask Social Services for a needs assessment
Vascular dementia is the second most common dementia and there aren’t any medications available to treat the dementia symptoms as such. Folks are just given meds to reduce another stroke / heart attack
These are common meds like statins
These are common meds like statins
As others have said, if the diagnosis is vascular dementia, then there are no specific meds. My mother in law had a diagnosis of vascular dementia and there was no medication to assist with symptoms.
I'm not sure what a private assessment may suggest that would be any more useful than waiting until November frankly.
Through the NHS in 2018 my husband was seen at the Royal Neurological Hospital in Queens Square and was told that in addition to his MRI scan (after repeated observational/memory tests) the next more definitive step would be a lumber puncture which he didn't consent to.
No doubt your wife could have an MRI scan privately to show what's going on in her brain at a guess £600?? A specific write up for your GP on top?
But then what, I don't know.
There's not much remotely appropriate medication around (some to slow down the progress of the disease for some people) but I imagine your wife would want to have all of this and the management of her condition in the hands of her GP.
Good luck with it all.
Through the NHS in 2018 my husband was seen at the Royal Neurological Hospital in Queens Square and was told that in addition to his MRI scan (after repeated observational/memory tests) the next more definitive step would be a lumber puncture which he didn't consent to.
No doubt your wife could have an MRI scan privately to show what's going on in her brain at a guess £600?? A specific write up for your GP on top?
But then what, I don't know.
There's not much remotely appropriate medication around (some to slow down the progress of the disease for some people) but I imagine your wife would want to have all of this and the management of her condition in the hands of her GP.
Good luck with it all.
Similar threads
