2014 APPG report

The National Dementia Strategy for England (NDSE), the first of its kind in England, came to end in April this year. The APPG on dementia felt that this provided a good opportunity to revisit a previous parliamentary inquiry, 'A Misspent Opportunity? An inquiry into the National Dementia Strategy'. That inquiry in 2010 made a number of recommendations as to how the NDSE should be taken forward. Five years on the Officers of the APPG set out to assess the progress made since 2010, identify changes in the health and social care landscape and outline priorities for any future strategy.

To do this the APPG gathered experts from across the dementia community, including people with dementia and their carers, and focused on three specific areas:

• Diagnosis and post-diagnosis support - in 2010 the APPG recommended that NDSE spending should be focused on 'areas of urgent need'. It is clear that diagnosis, and the support people receive afterwards, is a clear priority over the past five years.
• Commissioning of dementia services - the previous APPG inquiry recommended that Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) should base commission decisions using evidence of local need. With the changes to the health and social care systems since then the APPG revisited this in 2014.
• The dementia workforce - four years ago, the APPG stated that people with dementia should be supported by 'an informed and effective workforce'. This year, the Group has assessed progress towards this goal.

Parliamentary round tables

The APPG held three parliamentary round tables on the topics outlined above. These round tables brought together people with dementia and their carers, commissioners, providers, third sector colleagues and others to identify progress made over the past five years.

These sessions allowed the MPs and peers on the group to hear a wide range of opinions and make decisions accordingly.

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