Professor Roger Boyle, National Director for Heart Disease and Stroke called on GPs and primary care staff to improve recognition of dual sensory loss in older people. He spoke at an event on 11 March at the King’s Fund aimed at health care professionals. Sense estimates non-recognition of deafblindness is currently costing the NHS £365 million per year.
Older deafblind people have higher rates of a range of conditions, including stroke, arthritis, heart disease, hypertension, falls and depression and failure to recognise deafblindness stops them taking part in preventative measures which their peers can take.
Professor Boyle comments “Heart disease and strokes are the greatest causes of serious ill health in older people. Whatever can be done to prevent high risk groups from getting these, will help the health of the nation. I urge GPs to start making sure deafblind older people are identified and get the help they need.”
Sense has produced a simple checklist and booklet "It All Adds Up" to assist primary care staff to find out if patients could be deafblind and help them to get appropriate support.
Sue Brown, Head of Campaigns at Sense said “If GPs recognise the signs and make sure people get the right diagnosis this will make a big difference. If ignored the cost to the NHS will keep rising as the population ages. By using our checklist, primary care staff can help recognise dual sensory loss transforming patients’ lives and improving their long-term health.”
If you would like a copy of Sense’s `It All Adds Up’ booklet and checklist please phone 0845 127 0060.
