“This is a very encouraging sign that we are making progress in raising awareness about the best care for people with dementia.”
The percentage of patients in the South West of England being prescribed antipsychotic drugs has fallen sharply in the past six years, with health care leads saying that is a clear indication that standards of care are improving.
Find out more about the recently published audit of antipsychotic prescribing for dementia.
Liz Redfern, NHS South of England Drector of Nursing, said
“This is a very encouraging sign that we are making progress in raising awareness about the best care for people with dementia.
More importantly, the fall in prescribing antipsychotic drugs will have made a real difference to the lives of thousands of people who have dementia.”
Dr Martin Ansell, consultant in old-age psychiatry at 2Gether NHS Foundation Trust and member of the South West Strategic Clinical Network for Dementia, said:
“It is extremely heartening to see the inappropriate use of antipsychotic medications is being successfully addressed.
Providing carers with useful knowledge about dementia and insight into the nature of the disease can help them understand why a person with dementia acts as they do. More importantly, it allows them to alter their own approach”