Our response to Baroness Casey's call for a greater care response to dementia

Michelle Dyson CB, Chief Executive Officer at  Alzheimer’s Society said:  

'The announcement today from Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, that he is accepting the recommendations from Baroness Casey to prioritise dementia is a pivotal moment. 

It brings hope that dementia will at last receive the attention that is so desperately needed and much overdue.

We are demanding better for everyone with dementia

Alzheimer's Society have worked alongside Baroness Casey to represent people with dementia and set out the change that needs to happen. We are confident that the introduction of a dementia tsar to lead the government’s plan on dementia is an important step in driving this change. 

The Modern Service Framework for Dementia and Frailty must now commit to an ambition to reduce the number of people dying from dementia, and ultimately set us on course towards a world in which dementia no longer devastates lives.

A timeline for dementia progress

Further commitments, including for the UK to lead the way on dementia trials and for the government to publish an interim version of the Modern Service Framework in September are welcome. People have waited long enough having a timeline for this progress is essential. 

It is vital that bold steps to improve diagnosis are central to these plans.

We are grateful to Baroness Casey for being the voice of people with dementia and bringing dementia to the forefront, where it should be. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure these plans come to fruition and change the lives of people with dementia now and in the future.'