Alzheimer’s Society calls for an end to dementia care postcode lottery

Freedom of Information requests collected by GP newspaper found 38 of the 116 respondents did not have joint plans with local authorities. This is despite a deadline of 31 March being set in the strategy and reiterated by head of the NHS, David Nicholson earlier this year. Almost half of PCTs (47 per cent) also could not account for how or if strategy money had been spent.

Alzheimer's Society is now calling for the formation of close local and national partnerships with a strong dementia focus to end this uneven picture.

Responding to the findings, Andrew Chidgey, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Alzheimer's Society, said:

'The only way the full galvanising force of the National Dementia Strategy for England can be realised is if it is effectively rolled out at a local level. Unfortunately, 18 months after the strategy was published, this is clearly not happening everywhere and people are at the mercy of a postcode lottery of care.'

'This is not the first time we have heard this. The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Dementia report 'A Misspent Opportunity' also found large numbers of PCTs failing to give evidence of how or if they were following the National Dementia Strategy for England. We currently spend £20bn a year on dementia. Better planning can help reduce this figure and also transform lives by creating high quality person-centred services.'

'One in three people over the age of 65 will die with dementia. We now need to see strong leadership at a local and national level if we are to turn this situation around and give these people the access to the help and support they deserve.'

'A Misspent Opportunity' which was first published in March has been updated this week to incorporate the responses of all PCTs that had responded by 31 May.

The latest APPG figures show nearly half (60) of 137 PCTs had not yet developed joint strategies with local authorities. It also found 60 per cent of respondents (84) did not show evidence of allocating National Dementia Strategy for England funding this year or last year.

The PCTs which did say they had allocated funding were more likely to have a joint strategy in place. However there were no strong regional relationships or relationships between size of PCT.

-Ends-

Notes to editors:

• A full copy of the GP article will be available at healthcarerepublic.com/GP from Thursday 17 June.
• GP newspaper is a weekly publication for general practitioners.   
• The deadline for the implementation of joint action plans was set in the National Dementia Strategy for England Implementation Plan in February 2009. It was reiterated by David Nicholson,in a letter to all PCTs sent in March 2010.
• The APPG for dementia report 'A Misspent Opportunity' asked PCTs how they had allocated their share of NDSE funding, how they are prioritising investing in improving dementia services and the extent to which they have developed joint strategies.
• A recent YouGov poll commissioned by Alzheimer's Society found that 59 per cent of people are worried about the standard of care they could receive in old age. A third felt none of the main political parties were addressing this issue successfully ahead of the election.
• The APPG raises awareness of dementia amongst parliamentarians and aims to influence legislation and policy making to improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers. 
• The National Dementia Strategy for England published in February 2009 made £150million of additional funding available for PCTs over two years. This money is not ringfenced.
• One in three people over 65 will die with dementia.
• Alzheimer's Society research shows that 750,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia, more than half have Alzheimer's disease. In just 15 years a million people will be living with dementia. This will soar to 1.7 million people by 2051.
• Alzheimer's Society champions the rights of people living with dementia and the millions of people who care for them. 
• Alzheimer's Society works in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• Alzheimer's Society supports people to live well with dementia today and funds research to find a cure for tomorrow. We rely on voluntary donations to continue our vital work. You can donate now by calling 0845 306 0898 or visiting alzheimers.org.uk
  
• Alzheimer's Society provides a National Dementia Helpline, the number is 0845 300 0336 or visit alzheimers.org.uk