Panorama – Take one of these Mr Hollingworth
TX: Monday 3rd December, BBC1

Eric Hollingworth sits slumped in a chair, comatose, unaware of his surroundings, unable to communicate even with his daughter, Cheryl. Sometimes he stands up and sits down over 30 times in one minute.

Eric is 81 years old and in a care home. He has Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia. His daughter says it’s not just the disease itself which has reduced him to this sorry state - it’s the powerful anti-psychotic drugs he’s been prescribed over the past three and a half years:

“I never thought he was the same again after he’d been prescribed those drugs. …. I thought something was lost.”

In Panorama “Take one of these, Mr Hollingworth” Cheryl Byrne tells of her battle to try and get her father off anti-psychotics. These drugs were originally developed for schizophrenia. The Alzheimer’s Society calculate that over 100,000 people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland with dementia are regularly prescribed the drugs.

Cheryl Byrne was convinced that the anti-psychotics were doing him harm. But the prescriptions went on. She resorted to filming him, using a secret camera hidden in a Marks and Spencer’s handbag, to gather evidence to prove her case.

During the programme two Senior Consultant Psychiatrists – one of whom wrote the guidelines on Dementia Care for the National Institute of Clinical Excellence - look at the facts of her father’s case. They were not given any names or places. They agree with Cheryl’s conclusions. Much of the time he never needed the drugs. At one point, they conclude, he was subjected to what they describe as a “liquid cosh” - a “cocktail” of drugs including anti-psychotics.

As for the broad picture, one of Consultant Psychiatrists told Panorama:

I don’t think this is a peculiar scenario…Virtually all old age psychiatrists in the country would have prescribed anti psychotics to people with dementia and probably are still doing so…..

Panorama reveals new research from one of the world’s most eminent experts in dementia. He tells reporter Vivian White how serious and damaging the effects of these drugs can be when prescribed over a long term for dementia.

People with dementia can be cared for without the use of these drugs. The programme visits an unusual care home where this has been happening for over 20 years. Vivian White meets some of the residents. He’s surprised to find that Fred, who has severe dementia, can still play a mean game of dominoes. Watch Panorama on 3rd December to find out who wins.