UK health officials are facing renewed pressure from Members of Parliament to reinstate a key diagnostic target in the government's upcoming dementia plan. The target, which would enshrine the right to a dementia diagnosis within 18 weeks of referral to a memory clinic, was reportedly removed from a recent draft of the plan to save costs.
Tory MP Joe Robertson expressed dismay at the potential exclusion of the target, arguing that dementia patients should have the same right to timely care as those with other major diseases like heart disease or cancer. He urged Health Secretary James Murray to include the 18-week diagnosis timeframe in the "modern service framework" for dementia and frailty, highlighting that dementia is Britain's biggest killer.
Michelle Dyson, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, warned that the dementia plan would be insignificant without this target. She stated that its absence could lead to services being cut back, resulting in lengthy waiting times for patients and potentially delaying access to breakthrough drugs that are most effective in the early stages of the disease. Dyson also accused the National Health Service of treating dementia patients as "second-class citizens" who are often discharged with minimal information.
Samantha Jones, the top civil servant in the Department of Health and Social Care, addressed the Commons health and social care committee, stating that the blueprint is "not yet agreed" and could be subject to change before its publication later this year. She acknowledged that the framework involved input from various stakeholders but confirmed that the specific formula for the dementia aspect of the Modern Service Framework was still under discussion. Jones also noted that the framework is part of a broader package of measures addressing dementia, including drug trials and the appointment of a "dementia czar."
The Daily Mail and the Alzheimer's Society have partnered in a campaign to defeat dementia, aiming to increase awareness, boost early diagnosis, and improve care. Robertson reiterated his call for the government to include the 18-week diagnosis target, emphasizing the need for a standardized approach comparable to those for cancer and other major diseases. He warned that without such a target, services will remain inconsistent or unavailable in many areas, leaving patients and families to cope with the disease alone.
Dyson described the Modern Service Framework as a "once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform dementia care" and urged the government to demonstrate ambition for the estimated one million people currently living with dementia in the UK. She stressed the importance of prompt diagnosis and access to appropriate treatment and support, advocating for a minimum 18-week target from referral to diagnosis, followed by a care plan and suitable treatment.
The Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the devastating impact of dementia and stated its commitment to ensuring that everyone affected can access high-quality, personalized support. The department did not explicitly confirm whether the 18-week diagnosis target would be reinstated.