3000 hidden cases of dementia in Lothians

THERE may be up to 3000 "hidden" dementia cases in the Lothians, it emerged today.

Health chiefs revealed the figure as they published a new strategy to help patients with conditions such as Alzheimer's.

They said there are around 6500 on the register of known sufferers, but there are a further 50 per cent off the radar and in need of help.

NHS Lothian's official Dementia Strategy is seeking to bridge that gap to improve the reputation and quality of dementia care, while charities said it was absolutely crucial that anyone living with the illness was properly diagnosed.

Prof Alex McMahon, the health board's acting director of strategic planning and modernisation, said improving detection was one of many aims of the Scottish Government-backed scheme.

"Our aim is to make sure that patients with dementia and their carers get the best support we can provide," he said.

"Early diagnosis is very important, it means that we can start providing the right support and information for people straight away."

As part of the plan to diagnose more cases, nurses and doctors are being surveyed to gauge the level of general knowledge about dementia and its symptoms.

Bosses are concerned many could be presenting less obvious symptoms and either being sent away or misdiagnosed.

A conference involving 180 local GPs has already taken place to establish what more could be done on the ground.

Alzheimer Scotland welcomed the move and emphasised the importance of diagnosis. A spokeswoman said: "Diagnosis is so important because that's when all the support kicks in and the more help can be accessed from a range of services.

"The fact there are so many undiagnosed isn't exclusive to the Lothians, it is the same all over Scotland."

Prof McMahon added: "People often think of a diagnosis of dementia as sounding a death knell, but in fact they can often enjoy many good years ahead - our aim is to maximise the number of good years."

'No way we could've coped'

Janet Moss, 78, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's - the most common form of the disease - in January 2008.

From then her health began to slip before she became a permanent inpatient in both the city's Royal Victoria hospital and then the Royal Edinburgh in Morningside.

Fortunately for them her diagnosis was made promptly, but had it rumbled on, access to medication and support would not have been forthcoming.

Her son, Alastair Moss, said: "There's no way we could have managed to provide 24-hour care so it had to be hospital."