NHS figures reveal a record 487,432 people in England were diagnosed with dementia in the past year.
Despite this increase, the diagnosis rate is still below pre-pandemic levels. Currently, 65% of those estimated to have dementia have been diagnosed, falling short of the NHS’s 66.7% target, which was last achieved in 2019. The NHS highlighted that England boasts one of the highest dementia diagnosis rates globally, with high-income countries generally ranging between 20-50%.
This achievement is attributed to proactive assessments by specialist nursing and other staff, who actively identify dementia cases among care home residents. Despite progress, a postcode lottery persists. A recent report by an all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on dementia estimated that over 115,000 people with dementia remain undiagnosed due to geographic disparities. Analysis of NHS primary care data from 2023 revealed a 45 percentage point gap between the best and worst performing regions.
Structural barriers contributing to this disparity include cultural differences, challenges accessing GPs, long waits for memory assessments, insufficient post-diagnostic support, a shortage of scanners, and difficulties with travel to appointments. The APPG urged the previous government to boost scanning capacity and expand the workforce, and called on NHS integrated care boards to develop strategic local plans to improve access to diagnostic services.
Early diagnosis allows individuals to receive the necessary support and care to manage the illness effectively.
