IN their hour of need people with dementia living in care homes, who like any other tax payer have funded the NHS, are paying again to see a GP through their fees, or being denied timely access to services.
I am only too aware of this after my parents, who both had Alzheimer’s, stayed in care homes.
My dad didn’t get the right access to mental health services and ended up in hospital. He died just weeks later. My mum wasn’t permitted physiotherapy after falling twice and breaking her hip, she was left permanently bed-bound.
As part of Alzheimer’s Society’s Fix Dementia Care campaign, the charity has found people with dementia in care homes don’t have adequate or timely access to vital NHS services leaving many bedbound, incontinent or sedated.
One in five care homes also revealed they are being wrongly being charged by GP practices for services that should be free.
As an Alzheimer’s Society ambassador, I’m urging your readers to take action to end unfair access to NHS services and GPs wrongly charging care homes.
n To take action visit alzheimers.
org.uk/fixcampaign.
FIONA PHILLIPS Alzheimer’s Society ambassador based at Tannery Court, Warrington
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