A useful dementia diagnosis checklist for GPs

1. With thanks to Dr Helen Webb of St Clements Surgery Winchester for sharing
this template from her surgery
Dementia Diagnosis Checklist for GP’s
 Hand out the Dementia information/numbers A4 Sheet.
 Hand them ‘This is me’ document and encourage patient/carer to ensure we have a
photocopy and for the patient to take it with them if they ever have to go into hospital.
 Complete a care plan and read code as per the Dementia QOF template.
 Identify any carer and read code the patient as ‘Has a Carer’ and read code the Carer as ‘Is a
Carer’.
 Ensure any Carer is aware they have access to yearly flu vaccine and health check.
 Get permission from patient that you can copy in the Carer to any medical correspondence
to help patient e.g. attend appointments.
 Get permission from patient to put an alert in notes that all medical issues can be discussed
with Carer or NOK.
 Ensure you read code that the patient has Dementia and change from previous ‘Cognitive
Impairment’ if necessary.
 Put alert on patients blue alert screen that the patient has dementia and to offer double
appointment if possible.
 Put alert on the Carers blue alert screen that they are a Carer.
 Consider booking Carer into the Carer Support Clinic with the Carer Support Worker from
Princess Royal Trust for Carers who have a clinic first Wednesday of each month at St
Clements. Give the name and number to Wendy Crookes who can book them an
appointment.
 Gain permission to discuss the patient at the next Whiteboard meeting so the extended
team of district nurses/GPs are aware the patient has dementia.