Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Inequalities in Dementia Services

16 May 2024 · 3 other contributors · 9,848 words

Opened by Debbie Abrahams Lab Oldham East and Saddleworth

Responding minister: Maria Caulfield

NHS

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Debbie Abrahams raised concerns about inequalities in dementia services in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Significant inequalities exist in dementia diagnosis rates across different regions of England, with some areas reaching 90% while others are at 50%.
  • The number of people living with dementia in the UK exceeds 900,000 and is projected to rise to over 1.6 million by 2040.
  • Dementia diagnosis rates dropped to 61% during the COVID-19 pandemic and currently stand at 64.8%, below the national target of two thirds.

Key requests to Government

The lead MP calls on the government to urgently address the inequalities in dementia diagnosis rates and access to post-diagnostic support. She urges the government to make earlier diagnosis a greater priority, especially considering that quicker diagnoses can significantly improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden on the health and social care systems.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Debbie Abrahams Lab Oldham East and Saddleworth

The speaker is concerned about the significant inequalities in dementia diagnosis rates across different regions of England, with some areas achieving as high as 90% while others are at just 50%. The number of people living with dementia in the UK exceeds 900,000 and this figure is expected to rise to over 1.6 million by 2040. Dementia diagnosis rates dropped from 67.6% to 61% during the COVID-19 pandemic and currently stand at 64.8%, falling short of the national target of two thirds. The speaker highlights that dementia is a leading cause of death in the UK, affects more than 70% of residential care home residents over 65, and accounts for an estimated quarter of NHS beds.

Other contributors (3)
  • Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton

    The MP expresses concern over the wide disparities in dementia diagnosis rates across different regions, questioning why there is such a significant variance between areas like Stoke with a 90% rate and Swindon at just 50%. He supports his colleague's efforts to raise awareness of this issue. Commended the lead MP for securing the debate, highlighted the importance of cross-party support in tackling dementia. Noted that almost 1 million people live with dementia in the UK, rising to 1.4 million by 2040. Stressed that certain groups such as women and those from disadvantaged backgrounds are at higher risk. Advocated for a national care service to address social care challenges, aiming to reduce health inequalities. Emphasised the need for timely diagnosis, better integration of NHS and social care services, and greater focus on prevention. Asked the Minister to be more ambitious for England, pointing out that she is currently the Social Care Minister for England, not Wales.

  • Andrew Rosindell Con Romford

    The MP commends the work done by the lead speaker and highlights the high number of dementia diagnoses compared to other conditions like heart disease and cancer, questioning why there is not more investment in research and support for those suffering from dementia. He also points out that in his constituency it takes an average of over 16 weeks to get a diagnosis and supports efforts to reduce this wait time. Mr Rosindell highlighted the work of the Dementia Music and Social Club in Romford, which provides a supportive environment for people with dementia but receives no financial support from local authorities or the government. He stressed the importance of voluntary organisations and called for more support to enable such clubs to continue their vital work. Inquired if the Government would commit to providing additional resources for boroughs like Havering, which have large populations of older people suffering from dementia. He emphasised the need for funding to follow individuals rather than being tied to specific geographical boundaries. Inquired about authorities working with local authorities beyond their region and highlighted the work of the Dementia Music and Social Club Romford. He suggested the Government consider funding for community groups that organise social activities for those suffering from dementia.

  • Holly Lynch Lab Calderdale and Hilldale

    Paying tribute to the work of my hon. Friend the Member for Oldham East and Saddleworth on dementia advocacy, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and support services in Calderdale. Mentioned the 66.1% dementia diagnosis rate locally and stressed the economic benefits of investing in research and treatment.

Government Response

Maria Caulfield

It is a pleasure to serve under the chairmanship of Ms Rees, and I thank Debbie Abrahams for securing this debate. The Minister acknowledges that dementia is not an automatic part of aging but affects people at various stages in life. She highlights personal experiences with dementia, including her mother-in-law's death from dementia, emphasizing the difficulty of seeing loved ones change dramatically due to the disease. The minister commends the work done by local services and the importance of dementia-friendly communities, as well as the contributions made by Andrew Rosindell regarding changes needed for improved care. She also highlights the all-party parliamentary group on dementia's groundbreaking efforts under Abrahams' leadership in flagging issues based on those who provide dementia services. Acknowledging the need for cultural shifts beyond increased funding, she discusses diagnostic overshadowing where other health conditions are ignored due to the perception of dementia as a natural part of aging. The minister emphasizes the leading cause of death among women is dementia and highlights the economic impact of it through recent research from the Alzheimer's Society. She outlines plans such as publishing a major conditions strategy, targeting timely diagnosis for dementia, and setting an ambition for two-thirds of people living with dementia to receive formal diagnoses. Addressing disparities in recovery post-pandemic, she mentions NHS England's commitment to recover diagnosis rates and provides funding details like £17 million allocated towards addressing dementia waiting lists. The minister also discusses investments into research projects aimed at improving early-stage diagnosis tools and treatments, including doubling funding for dementia research to £160 million by the current financial year. Other initiatives highlighted include prevention programs, post-diagnostic support through Admiral nurses, career pathways in social care, and carer assessments as per the Care Act 2014. She addresses specific points made during the debate, such as commissioning services for better integrated care across geographical boundaries and funding avenues like social prescribing. The minister concludes by reiterating the Government's commitment to improving dementia diagnosis rates and providing support for those affected.

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