Care England raises grave concerns over the announcement made by Wes Streeting removing dementia diagnosis rate targets from the NHS Operational Planning Guidance for 2025-26. This decision has not only muted the voices of around 982,000 [1] people living with dementia, but also reflects a backward step in the progress of dementia care.
Care England is therefore seeking to capture information from those impacted to help influence the future dementia care landscape and invites people living with Dementia, their family and friends, and staff caring for people living with dementia to answer a short questionnaire here.
The recent announcement is another devastating blow to the nearly one million people living with dementia in the UK today, as well as their families, carers and the staff that support them. Dementia is Britian’s biggest killer, and has been the leading cause of death in Britain for the last 10 years[2]. When the Health and Social Care Secretary outlines that “if everything is a priority, then nothing is”, we understand why the health secretary said this, but are at a loss to know why the UK’s biggest killer is not a priority for the NHS and the Government. The government’s commitment to shifting to prevention is unclear how compatible it is with this recent announcement, without these diagnosis targets, individuals won’t have access to support which will ultimately cause concerns further down the line – pushing people living with Dementia to a breaking point where they do not seek support until they are in crisis.
These targets were introduced to ensure that people living with dementia were identified as soon as possible; to get them an early diagnosis so they have access to the appropriate support and care. Late diagnosis means individuals do not get access to the high-quality care needed to help slow down the progression or achieve the support they need to thrive in society. Having a dementia diagnosis unlocks help and support which may not be otherwise given without a diagnosis, especially those with young onset dementia, which is an area which already struggles with receiving a diagnosis, completely removing these targets will make it much harder for individuals to receive a vital diagnosis.
Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England commented:
“This decision is both unacceptable and offensive to a large section of our society. The government must commit to a clear, robust plan for dementia care. Removing these targets eliminates accountability, allowing individuals to fall through the cracks and be denied the care and support they need and are entitled to. Right now, some people wait years for a dementia diagnosis before they can access vital services. The abandonment of these targets will only exacerbate an already escalating crisis as our population ages. In 2023, we saw the government scrap the Dementia Strategy, and now this—step by step, the voices of those on the dementia pathway are being erased due to government inaction.”
In response to this, Care England alongside sector experts, is seeking to gather insights from individuals living with dementia, their friends and family members, as well as their carers about their experiences with diagnosis, care, and support. The data collected aims to identify gaps and opportunities in the current dementia care pathway and to charge government with the necessary improvements to dementia care support services and is encouraging those living with dementia, their friends and families to provide this essential information to shine the light firmly in the faces of those in government who appear to have forgotten them and the value they add to our society.
The questionnaire looks at addressing the following points:
1. What support did a dementia diagnosis unlock?
2. How important is a dementia diagnosis to you/your friend/relative or the person you care for?
3. How do you expect the removal of the dementia diagnosis rate target will impact those seeking a dementia diagnosis?
To fill in the full survey, please follow the link here.