Full Breakdown
Dementia Care Reform Push in England
By Drooid · · How we work
Background and Current Landscape
England currently has no national waiting-time target for dementia diagnosis and treatment, unlike the NHS targets that exist for cancer. Approximately one million people in the United Kingdom are living with dementia, a figure projected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040. The Alzheimer's Society and the King’s Trust have argued that dementia services are “stuck in the 20th century” and call for a “cancer-style revolution” to modernise care.
Government and Expert Proposals
The Alzheimer’s Society has proposed an 18-week referral-to-treatment target for dementia patients, mirroring the cancer pathway introduced in 2000. Professor Sir Mike Richards, former national cancer director, supports the target as achievable but notes it will require political initiative and additional funding. Baroness Louise Casey, who is leading a major review of adult social care, has echoed the recommendation in a letter to former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, urging the government to place dementia on a level playing field with other conditions. Social Care Minister Alison McGovern has expressed backing for the report, describing dementia as “neglected for far too long” and highlighting the sharp division between health and social care experienced by patients and families. The government has pledged to appoint a “dementia tsar” with expertise and to publish a modern service framework for dementia care by the end of the year.
Official Statements & Responses
Prime Minister Andy Burnham, whose father Roy suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, has indicated that he will await Baroness Casey’s recommendations before deciding on specific reforms or funding changes for adult social care. Burnham cancelled public engagements earlier in the week after his father’s death and has linked his personal experience to a renewed drive for systemic change.
Expected Impact and Next Steps
If an 18-week target is adopted, dementia patients could receive faster diagnosis and treatment, potentially reducing the burden on families and the health system. Baroness Casey is expected to publish her full set of recommendations on social-care reform next summer, providing a timetable for any legislative or funding adjustments. The appointment of a dementia tsar and the forthcoming service framework are slated as the government’s immediate actions to accelerate progress.