by
norrms » Sat Jan 12, 2013 4:17 pm
Later today I will write a letter to Alistair Burns, the UK Clinical Director of Dementia asking for the Unification of the Mini Mental Test within the UK. Last year I was aghast to learn that different trust`s around the UK ask differing questions and also some of the questions are, well, shall we just say, not very useful, the reason for this is as follows.
Dementia is a Terminal Disease!! No one has ever survived it!! Now,
No matter where you live in the UK, if you break a bone, you are given an X-Ray, that’s a “Given”
If you have heart problems? You are given an ECG that’s a “Given”
If you think you may have a clot on the brain? You have either an MRI scan or a CT scan, that’s a “Given”
And yet, if you are brave enough to actually make an appointment with your GP, and openly admit you are having memory problems which could lead to it being a terminal disease? You are asked a few questions to score out of 30 (Approx) and if you don’t score the recommended number you are sent on your merry way!!!
Why are so many people not diagnosed? Well, let me explain, Dementia as you know is “predominantly” short term memory loss and yet some of the questions that are being asked are questions like
“Who is on the Throne? The queen has been there for over 60yrs!!
Where do you live and name three streets around your house?
Suppose you have lived there TWENTY years +?
What car do you drive (if applicable) and believe me it is in a lot of cases!! Most people keep their cars for years!!
Yes, these are actual questions that are being asked. The questions that are not being asked are questions like
“How did you get here this Morning?
When did you last go on Holiday ?
What did you have for breakfast?
What Season is it now?
Where did you go last weekend? (if carer/wife is with them, and they should be at this stage in some cases)
Now for all of those in the Government that love Stats, facts and figures, how is it possible to correlate all the information to give a true reading of figures of people who have been diagnosed in the UK when there is such a variation in the questions, depending where you live? It’s just not possible? And, more importantly, how many people are being Miss diagnosed, or not diagnosed at all because the wrong questions are being asked??
I am not an academic, far from it, but I do know that after some research of my own, some of the questions in the Mini mental test are posed by professors and consultants, which is quite right, but!! Some of them are not relevant and the wrong conclusion is being arrived at tio the cost, of dare I say it, human life.
An overhaul and a Unification of Mini Mental tests all over the UK is what`s needed. These tests are given at a time when it crucial to get it right, if we don’t get this right, at the very beginning of this illness, then lives will be lost and families destroyed. If we do get this right, the benefits are immense, not only do we help people to come to terms with this awful disease, but to improve the quality of life for thousands if not millions when you include family and carers.
Now my friends, if this makes sense to me, and i was diagnosed with Dementia FIVE years ago???? Makes you think doesnt it ??
I will of course let you know of any outcome from this, but i hope they are listening, WHAT DO YOU THINK ??
Your views are always apprieciated, best wishes, Norrms and family xxxxx