More than 60 members of Parliament from across the political spectrum have formally requested that Health Secretary Andy Burnham implement an 18-week target for diagnosing dementia within the National Health Service (NHS). The call aims to align dementia care with the diagnostic timelines already in place for conditions like cancer and heart disease, which are recognized as leading causes of mortality.
Dementia currently claims an estimated 76,000 lives annually in Britain, making it the country's largest killer. However, unlike cancer and heart disease, there is no mandated timeframe for diagnosing dementia. Current figures indicate that one in three individuals living with dementia in England do not have a formal diagnosis. For those who do receive one, the average waiting time has been approximately three and a half years.
Recent data reveals a significant increase in waiting times for dementia diagnoses. Since 2019, the average period between a GP referral to a memory clinic and receiving a diagnosis has risen by nearly 70 percent, from 13 weeks to 22 weeks.
The cross-party group of MPs, which includes former secretaries of state, expressed concern that failing to establish a target would send an inappropriate message regarding the government's priorities. They argue that the absence of a firm target could lead to reduced service provision, leaving more patients to endure prolonged waits as their condition deteriorates. This delay could potentially prevent individuals from benefiting from new medications that are most effective when administered in the early stages of the disease.
The MPs' letter suggests that the forthcoming Modern Service Framework for Dementia and Frailty (MSF) would be the appropriate venue to introduce a universal diagnosis target. They note that while the government has committed to completing 92 percent of referral-to-treatment pathways within 18 weeks for elective care, dementia lacks a comparable standard.
Michelle Dyson, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer's Society, has stated that the MSF will be ineffective if it does not include an 18-week diagnosis target. She previously warned that the target's removal from a recent draft of the framework, despite its inclusion in earlier versions, casts doubt on the document's value. Dyson described the framework as a ten-year plan intended to transform care for the UK's estimated one million people living with dementia, but expressed low confidence due to a perceived lack of ambition.
Burnham himself has spoken about his personal experience with dementia, revealing that his father, who lives with Alzheimer's disease, is unaware of his son's current position as prime minister. Dyson has also criticized the NHS for what she described as treating dementia patients like 'second-class citizens' who are often sent home with minimal support.
The letter to Burnham was coordinated by Conservative MP Joe Robertson, a member of the House of Commons health and social care committee and co-chair of the parliamentary all-party group for dementia. Signatories include prominent MPs such as Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Dame Caroline Dinenage, Bob Blackman, Layla Moran, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Sir Andrew Mitchell, Dame Karen Bradley, and Kit Malthouse.
The Daily Mail and the Alzheimer's Society have collaborated on a campaign, 'Defeating Dementia,' aimed at increasing awareness, promoting early diagnosis, supporting research, and improving care for individuals affected by the disease. The Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the profound impact of dementia on individuals and their families, stating a commitment to ensuring high-quality, personalized support for all affected.