Last updated at 11:04, Saturday, 06 February 2010

I am pleased Tim Farron is asking about dementia care in Cumbria as cuts in care in west Cumbria seem to be the norm, although the spokesman from NHS Cumbria insists it is improving.

At the day hospital and the ward both assessment units for patients with dementia have closed, losing essential services to dementia sufferers and their carers.

I wonder if the money saved went towards the building of the Hadrian’s unit in Carlisle for younger mental health sufferers, not that I am saying this unit is not necessary.

But dementia is a fatal illness and is difficult to diagnose because patients can use their intellect to disguise early symptoms, so how can busy GPs hope to do so in the 10 minutes or so allocated to each person in a surgery session.

Early intervention can only be helped by a range of physical and mental health assessments.

MARGARET ARMSTRONG
Etterby
Carlisle

First published at 09:00, Saturday, 06 February 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk