- Health and Social Care Secretary announces plans to work
across government to boost the £375 million already committed
for research into neurodegenerative diseases
- Actions will reduce the up to 40% of dementia considered to
be potentially preventable and explore how new technology,
science and medicine can help reduce the numbers and severity of
dementia.
- Record NHS funding to reduce the Covid backlog will help
ensure more timely dementia diagnosis.
A new 10-Year Plan to tackle dementia will be published later
this year, Health and Social Care Secretary confirmed today (Tuesday 17 May
2022).
Speaking at Alzheimer’s Society Conference 2022 the Health and
Social Care Secretary confirmed the 10-Year Plan will focus on
how new medicines and emerging science and technology can be
harnessed to improve outcomes for dementia patients across the
country.
Record NHS funding will help reduce the Covid backlog of dementia
diagnoses, with 30,000 people facing delays during the pandemic.
This will ensure timely support for the more than 900,000
believed to be living with dementia in the UK.
The plan will also focus on supporting people with their specific
health and care needs while living with dementia.
The prediction is one million people will be living with dementia
by 2025 and 1.6 million by 2040.
Work was started by the UK government to tackle the global
dementia challenge at the first G8 dementia summit in 2013, and
the Challenge on Dementia 2020 was another milestone which saw
one million care workers and one million NHS workers receiving
dementia awareness training.
The government has already committed £375 million into research
on neurodegenerative diseases over the next five years and the
Health and Social Care Secretary has committed to working across
government to boost this further.
The government is already working with those who best understand
dementia, including Alzheimer’s Society, ahead of setting out
plans for tackling dementia.
Up to 40% of dementia is considered potentially preventable and
what is good for the heart is also good for the brain, which is
why the strategy will also include actions to tackle high blood
pressure, physical inactivity, alcohol, obesity and to promote
healthy eating.
The government has already announced other measures which will
help those with dementia, including:
- The government’s social care
charging reforms with more generous means testing and a lifetime
cap on care costs.
- The integration white paper to
better link health and social care systems.
- The Health and Care Act which will
put the person at the centre of care with local systems designed
to deliver seamless care and support people in retaining their
independence, health and wellbeing.
- Levelling up healthcare and
reducing disparities across the country so everyone has the
chance to live longer and healthier lives wherever they come from
and regardless of their background.
