Private medical cover provider supports dementia alliance

Private medical cover provider BUPA has joined a group calling for a reduction in the number of dementia patients prescribed anti-psychotic drugs.

A total of 45 organisations, including the Alzheimer's Research Trust and the Alzheimer's Society, have come together to form the Dementia Action Alliance.

Their aim is to improve the quality of life for people with dementia and transform society's approach to those with the disease.

The group has launched a charter setting out what its members plan to do in order to achieve this.

One of their aims is to bring about a reduction in the number of dementia patients prescribed anti-psychotic drugs, which are used to treat aggression, agitation, shouting and sleep disturbance.

Ruth Sutherland, interim chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, said: "The Dementia Action Alliance provides an unprecedented opportunity to bring about real change for people with dementia.

"Putting dementia on the map in such a way will not only transform lives but also has the potential to save millions of pounds."

An estimated 750,000 people in the UK suffer from dementia.

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