WaMH in PC's blog

We're pleased to announce details of their forthcoming annual conference which is part of our work to promote primary mental health care issues and improve the profile of mental health services in Wales.

We're delivering this year's conference in conjunction with primhe (Primary Care Mental Health and Education) and it's called ‘The Really Useful Conference’.

The event will be held at Cheltenham Racecourse on Wednesday 9 October later this year and will look at how the well-being of staff and patients can be improved in general practice.

Our target audience is wide ranging but our focus is to bring mental health practitioners and professionals, policy makers, agencies and organisations together so they can work in collaboration.

Our annual conferences provide excellent opportunities for you to network, meet new people, form new alliances and take part in some exciting, thought-provoking and informative plenary sessions and workshops.

We'll be releasing further information about the event over the coming weeks but if you'd like to express an interest in attending please contact Lesley Hills via email at lhills@rcgp.org.uk or on 029 2050 4516.

The RCGP has warned that GPs need extra funding to hit the Government's dementia diagnosis targets and patients must not have early diagnoses ‘forced’ upon them.

In an article for the Pulse website RCGP Chair Professor Clare Gerada said some patients will find it distressing to receive an early diagnosis and should not be cajoled into having assessments.

Her comments followed Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt’s call to increase ‘shockingly low’ dementia diagnosis rates in England from 45% to 66% by 2015.

The RCGP has backed the Government’s subsequent drive - announced earlier this week - to boost dementia diagnosis rates by 50% and Professor Gerada said: "GPs are committed to improving the care we provide to patients with dementia - and we acknowledge that earlier and more accurate diagnosis can enable people with dementia and their families to make more informed choices and decisions about their future care, whilst they still have the capacity to do so."

GPs have been offered a controversial DES - for dementia case-finding - that will involve practices opportunistically offering an assessment for dementia to ‘at-risk’ patients during routine consultations.

For further details please read the RCGP backs drive to boost dementia rates by 50% news article on the Pulse website.

Dementia is currently an increasingly important issue in Wales as well and there are currently just over 42,700 people living with the condition across the country.

This has recently led to the creation of the National Dementia Vision for Wales which provides a long-term vision to ensure  Wales can best meet the challenge of this increasing number of people living with dementia within our borders.

If you have any questions about WaMH in PC's work with dementia in Wales please contact us via email at lhills@rcgp.org.uk or on 029 2050 4516.

The mental health of carers hit the headliners over the weekend after the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) said they should be routinely screened for signs of depression.

RCGP Chairwoman Dr Clare Gerada explained to the BBC how carers were at a very high risk group for both physical and mental health issues during an interview on the BBC News Channel - Carers at high risk of depression, say doctors' leaders.

Following Dr Gerada's interview several viewers contacted the BBC to relate their own experiences of being a carer which at times meant they made difficult decisions regarding their own health - 'I was in tears': Carers tell their stories.

The Guardian website and then Sky News published their own versions of the story which you can read via the following links:

• Carers should be monitored for mental health problems, warn doctors
• Carers 'Should Be Screened For Depression'