Drugs are used ‘too easily’ in care homes

Nov 13 2009 by Sara Nichol. The Journal

RESEARCH partly conducted in care homes on Tyneside has revealed that up to 150,000 people treated with anti-psychotic drugs don’t need them.

The new Government-commissioned independent review found that just one in five patients in hospitals and care homes derive any benefit from the “chemical cosh” drugs.

For years, controversy has surrounded the use of anti-psychotic drugs, which research has shown can double the risk of death and triple the risk of stroke. The latest review estimates that over-prescribing of the drugs is linked to an extra 1,800 deaths among elderly people in the UK.

They are generally prescribed to control symptoms such as aggression, agitation, and hallucinations but critics say they are often given to heavily sedate people - the so called “chemical cosh”.

It’s a criticism agreed with by Alice Phillips, whose husband died on Alzheimer’s three-years-ago. The 64-year-old, of Seaham, County Durham, said there are not enough staff in care homes to look after dementia patients and, as a result, anti-psychotic drugs are used far too easily.

Mrs Phillips said: “My husband was only 49 when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and he had it for 16 years until he passed away.

“I looked after him at home throughout but he occasionally went into hospitals and care homes for respite care. During these visits, something always happened to him, with regards to him hurting himself.

“There were generally only four staff looking after 16 dementia patients, which is just impossible. That is why patients are so easily put on these drugs because it helps control them, with so little staff looking after them.

“This means that these drugs are regularly used for the wrong reasons.

“The Government needs to heavily invest in research for this disease and in staff numbers and training. You can’t treat dementia patients all the same.

“The Government is starting to now make steps in the right direction but they have come all of two inches in 20 years. More funding for research into these drugs is essential as is funding for staff in care homes and hospitals.”

The study, funded by the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, involved 165 Alzheimer’s patients in care homes, including in Newcastle and Gateshead, who were being prescribed anti-psychotic drugs.

In his review, Sube Banerjee, professor of mental health and ageing at the Institution of Psychiatry at King’s College London, said people stayed on the drugs far too long and the benefit was generally outweighed by harm.

Prof Banerjee continued to say that there needed to be improved training for staff.

Nadra Ahmed, chairman of the National Care Homes Association, said it was GP’s who prescribed the drugs.