A Southland doctor has laid bare the reality of rural dementia care

Psychiatrist for the elderly, Dr Daniel Allan, says a lack of options means he's forced to use sedative medication on patients with dementia.

He's appeared before Parliament's Health Committee.

Allan says there's a big contrast from better-resourced areas.

He says in Christchurch, he might on occasion, use sedation as a last resort - but where he works the last resort is a regular occurrence.