"Dementia Diagnosis"

Two years ago, my wife was diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment, and earlier this year, at her second review, she was given a new diagnosis of Dementia. This was something that I had not anticipated.

The psychiatrist indicated she would prescribe a drug to help delay the effects, but an ECG would be necessary before beginning the treatment. We, or rather, I (My wife is in denial about her condition), waited for the appointment letter for six weeks, and then I tried telephoning the unit without success. I called in and was reassured the ECG had been ordered as a routine request. Later upon checking the SET website, I discovered that the waiting time for a routine ECG is around 30 weeks. After some further telephone calls, I got an appointment a month later. The ECG was undertaken  three weeks ago, but the GP has still not received any notification to prescribe from the  hospital

It is now four months since diagnosis, and I am concerned about the delay in treatment.

If it had been explained that the ECG would take 30 weeks, I would have made arrangements with our GP or used private provision to get it done quickly.

After the diagnosis, we were not given a phone number to call for support, nor did we have a follow-up call from anyone. 

If I had not pursued the hospital, it may well have taken over a year for treatment to commence, currently, it is four months since diagnosis, and it still has not begun.

I had previously found the Dementia Navigator Service on the website and spoken with the person who filled that role who was helpful, but as my wife did not, at that stage, have a diagnosis, our contact was limited.

I suggest that the protocol which governs the above procedure be examined, that a pre-prescription requirement be treated as urgent, and that the possible delay/timescale is communicated to the patient and carer.

 I am unhappy with the communication of waiting time and any follow up with further information after a difficult diagnosis.