Government pledges action on antipsychotics in dementia
Antipsychotics prescribed without clinical justification amounted to a "deprivation of liberty", Mr Burstow told the Dementia Congress in Liverpool last Wednesday, backing calls for the clinical review of 180,000 patients with dementia by March.
However, the Department of Health target of cutting antipsychotic use in people with dementia by two thirds in a year was unlikely to be met, Mr Burstow added.
The news came as the government launched a campaign to boost public awareness of the early signs and symptoms of dementia, aiming to encourage more people to seek an early diagnosis.
The Department of Health campaign, which includes a TV advert and leaflets, warns six out of 10 patients with dementia remain undiagnosed, and urges family members to watch out for signs and encourage loved ones who may have dementia to see their GP.
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