Shrink rap from Mr Angry

Marking time: visit lasted six minutes
                                printsmarter.co.uk

Mr Angry of the Fens has reappeared, so reach for those tin hats and run for cover. The artillery gets a bit heavy.

I've just read the Hard Day's Night post again and I've forgotten something really important. No obvious jokes about Alzheimer's, please, or indeed, the mother-in-law. The nature of her illness means she has a twice-yearly check-up from a specialist when she is normally given a test regarding her mental abilities and presumably the rate of deterioration. Three years ago she scored 16 out of 30, last year it was 11 out of 30 and her condition has certainly become worse. The questions are simple and are along the lines of: Do you know where you are living? Do you know what day or month this is? Can you spell world backwards? ... and so on.

A consultant psychiatrist conducted a home visit last week - less stressful for the patient on familiar territory - and we fully expected him to carry out the test. He did no such thing - and stayed only six minutes. Yes, six minutes. OK, she is well cared for here, as the shrink pointed out, but how on earth could he discover the extent of her illness by staying for six minutes? What was the point? His peers were certainly more diligent on previous visits.

He was a pleasant enough chap, but he hardly spoke to mum-in-law who had difficulty understanding his accent, anyway. Instead, he spoke to my wife as mum-in-law looked on, no doubt feeling like a second-class person, a spare part. Dignity in dementia? Yeah, sure.

Would she receive a better service if she lived in one of the posher parts of Cambridgeshire? I suspect so. Still, I expect the requisite targets have been met.
Useful link: http://www.dementiauk.org/

NB: Fortunately, not every aspect of the health service in our neck of the woods is poor. We do have an excellent surgery in this village and the service is tip-top, as our GP would say. Many thanks and keep up the good work.