Services provided by other medical specialists
Around 12% of all MBS services used by people with dementia were specific consultations with, or services provided by medical specialists (other than GPs). On average, a person with dementia had 5 specialist services in 2016–17.
Of the specialist services provided to people with dementia:
- 1 in 5 (22%) were provided by haematologists (who treat blood-related conditions), and this was slightly lower for people without dementia (19%)
- 1 in 7 (15%) were provided by geriatricians (who treat conditions that affect older people, including dementia), and this was substantially lower for people without dementia (1.1%)
- 1 in 10 (10%) were provided by ophthalmologists (who treat eye-related conditions), and this was similar for people without dementia (11%) (Table S7.7).
Services provided by cardiologists (who treat heart diseases) and oncologists (who treat cancer) contributed to a greater proportion of specialist services for people without dementia (14% and 9.3%, respectively) than with dementia (11% and 3.4%, respectively).
The type of specialist services used by people with and without dementia varied extensively by age, and whether they lived in residential aged care (Figure 7.8). Services provided by psychiatrists and neurologists were most frequent among people with younger onset dementia (aged under 65), irrespective of where they lived. Services provided by specialists who treat age-related conditions including geriatricians and ophthalmologists increased with age among people with and without dementia.