HEART-BROKEN widower Phil Prentice has criticised Swindon health services after his wife died while waiting months for an appointment at a dementia clinic.

When the 80-year-old of Harry Garrett Court, Wroughton, first realised his wife of 59 years, Phyllis, had dementia last year he was determined to secure treatment for her.

But former nurse Phil was informed there was a ninemonth waiting list for an appointment with the Victoria Centre’s Memory Services clinic – 30 weeks longer than national guidelines.

The wait was so long Phyllis was unable to get the much needed help and support she needed before her death in June.

“I think it’s absolutely disgusting that no one could see my wife,” said Phil.

“I’d maybe understand a wait of a month but nine is ridiculous. She waited eight months and she died before she could get any help.

“She didn’t die of dementia but she didn’t get the support when she was alive. I can see both sides of it, and the problem is they just can’t get the staff and there is this reliance on agency staff.

“We waited eight months and she couldn’t even get treatment in that time. We didn’t even know what kind of dementia she had, so how could she be treated? It placed an enormous strain on the family.”

In January 2013 NHS Swindon pledged to cut waiting times for appointments at memory clinics.

Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust is one of the top four trusts in the country for diagnosing dementia.

A spokesman said: “Swindon has seen a significant increase in the demand for dementia assessments. Referrals are50 per month, meaning a current wait of nine months.

“The trust and Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group activated a major waiting list initiative to strengthen the service.

“As a result we are able to see about 60 additional people a month. By March 2016 we aim to have reduced the waiting time to four weeks."