Care England today publishes “The Current State of Dementia
Diagnosis & Care in England” report, a comprehensive
review of how dementia is diagnosed and managed across the
nation.
The report reveals ongoing gaps in diagnosis, significant
regional disparities, and serious challenges in coordination of
care. The report underscores the urgent need for a unified
national strategy, enhanced dementia-specific workforce training,
and sufficient sustainable funding to improve outcomes for those
affected and support their relatives and carers.
The report identifies that the average waiting time from referral
to dementia diagnosis has increased to 17.7 weeks, up from 13
weeks in 2019, with current waiting times ranging anywhere from 0
to 104 weeks across the country. In comparison, the range in 2019
was between 3 and 34 weeks.
This worsening trajectory, compounded by an ageing population and
the projected rise in those needing care and support, points
toward a government failure to deliver timely and effective
strategies to address the growing demand for dementia services.
As a result, inequities in access to diagnosis and care are
deepening across regions, something unlikely to be resolved
unless the necessary funding and support is provided by the
government.
Commenting on the launch, Professor Martin Green OBE,
Chief Executive of Care England commented:
“People living with dementia, and the professionals who care
for them, are navigating a system that is too often reactive,
underfunded, and disjointed. This report is a call to redesign
that system from the ground up, which needs national leadership,
long-term investment, and a commitment to treating dementia care
as a priority, not an afterthought”
Developed with leaders across the sector, this report calls for:
- A national standardised diagnostic pathway with streamlined
processes.
- The reintroduction of a national dementia diagnosis benchmark
as part of a Dementia Accountability Framework.
- A nationally mandated standard of care must be established
across every stage of the dementia care pathway.
- Provision and funding for national education as a minimum,
for care providers to choose tailored workforce education
specific to their needs.
Jill Quinn MBE, CEO of Dementia Forward
commented:
“Without a national dementia strategy and a uniformed
approach, not only do we create dangerous gaps in the support and
care, but we also fail to share good practice and ultimately
improve lives. Our hope is that we can work together to create a
system that holds people, avoids crisis and improves
lives.”
Thessa Verwolf, Relationship Centred Care Coordinator at
Nightingale Hammerson commented:
“Early and accurate diagnosis of dementia is a necessity, but
it is also the foundation for dignity, planning, and
compassionate care. At Nightingale Hammerson, we see the profound
difference it makes when individuals and families understand what
they're facing from the start. To truly deliver the best support
for people living with dementia, we need a strong, growing
evidence base that informs both policy and
practice"
Professor Martin Green OBE concluded:
"Behind every statistic is a person whose journey with
dementia could have been better if there were earlier diagnosis
and more coordinated care. We need leadership, investment, and
urgency – as a society, we owe it to the nearly one million
people living with dementia to build a system that acts before
crisis, supports every stage of the journey, and delivers
dignity, not disparity."
