A commission has said integrated care systems must drive ‘radical change’ after finding that almost two in five dementia sufferers in England are undiagnosed.
A new report by the Dementia Commission says the ‘diagnosis deficit’ has grown by 8.3% since 2019, with 36% of people with dementia in England currently undiagnosed.
In the worst affected local authorities, half of people living with dementia have received no diagnosis.
The co-chair of the Dementia Commission, Lord James O’Shaughnessy, said: ‘This is a critical juncture for our healthcare system.
‘The unrelenting rise in undiagnosed cases demands a paradigm shift in our approach to dementia care.’
The commission said integrated care systems (ICSs), with their mandate to bring together local authorities, the NHS, and other partners to meet local health needs, are best placed to drive the ‘radical change’ that is needed.
Commissioners said dementia care should be a priority for ICSs, with clear accountability and measurable objectives and a named dementia lead.
They stressed that ‘strong leadership’ from the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England is required to drive change.
