All-Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia

Raising the Barriers

An Action Plan to Tackle Regional Variation in Dementia Diagnosis in England

Whether enabling access to medications, support or simply the relief of understanding what is causing the difficulties they are experiencing, 91% of people affected by dementia see clear benefits of getting a diagnosis.

However, there is significant variation in how quickly and accurately people are being diagnosed with dementia based on where they live in the country. There is a difference of over twenty percentage points in the dementia diagnosis rates between the highest and lowest performing Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) in England at present.

Our healthcare system must be inclusive of all who need a diagnosis of dementia, enabling access across every region of England to the advice, care, support and treatment that timely dementia diagnosis can bring. For far too many people, this is not the case.

Fortunately, we have also heard about areas which have managed to inclusively diagnose those living with dementia in rural and deprived communities. This must be used to inform best practice and delivered at scale so that all who need it can receive a timely and accurate dementia diagnosis.

The APPG on Dementia recommends:

1. Each ICS must develop a comprehensive dementia strategy
2. All dementia diagnoses must include an accurate subtype
3. NHS England must continue to review and develop its methods for calculating dementia prevalence and diagnosis rates
4. A national Dementia Observatory should be created to collate and publish existing data collected across system levels
5. Government intelligence about variation in dementia diagnosis rates must be translated into action
6. A broader range of regional and local communication channels must be used to reach those who may be lost to the system
7. Government should ensure the primary care workforce is adequately planned and resourced to enable dementia diagnosis
8. High-quality post-diagnostic support services for dementia must be available more equitably across England

Watch the oral evidence sessions

The Group held three oral evidence sessions in March, you can watch recordings of any sessions you missed here:

1. 15 March - 1.30-2.30pm - Dementia Diagnosis in Rural Areas - watch the recording here
2. 22 March - 1.30-2.30pm - Dementia Diagnosis in Deprived Areas - watch the recording here
3. 29 March - 1.30-2.30pm - Making a Fairer Dementia Diagnosis System - watch the recording here

Webinar

To mark the launch, and to recognise campaigner contribution to the report, we hosted a Webinar on 25th October for people to join and hear more about the inquiry and the APPG on Dementia as a whole. You can watch back the recording here.

About the APPG

The APPG is run in partnership with Alzheimer's Society, which provides administrative support and expert advice to the group.

Its aim is to influence legislation and policy making in order to improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers.

The Group meets several times a year and uses each meeting to focus on specific issues affecting people with dementia. It also conducts inquiries on issues that affect people living with dementia.

APPG Officers

Co-Chairs: Debbie Abrahams MP & Baroness Browning

Vice-Chairs: Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick, Lord David Blunkett, Lord Philip Hunt, Lord Weir, Lady Greenfield, Elliot Colburn MP, Jeremy Wright MP, Judith Cummins MP, Marie Rimmer MP, Mark Menzies MP, Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP, Liz Saville-Roberts MP, Laurence Robertson MP, Ben Lake MP

Additional Members: Dr Lisa Cameron MP

The APPG on Dementia's latest Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday 8 March 2023. Minutes from the meeting can be viewed here.