Your correspondent asks that GPs assessing for possible dementia should see the person “with a family member who can give examples of the changes the person is experiencing” (Letters, 17 September). They are not alone in the frustration of specialist referral being declined on the basis of a cognitive test alone.
I hope it might help to know that this holistic approach is already the official advice for patients and GP practices. The NHS website says: “It helps if someone who knows you well is also with you, as they can help describe any changes or problems they’ve noticed.” The guideline from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence tells clinicians: “Do not rule out dementia solely because the person has a normal score on a cognitive instrument.”
