David Mackintosh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Mackintosh on 2016-04-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people diagnosed with dementia have access to appropriate treatment and support.

Jane Ellison

Dementia is a key priority for the government.

That is why in February 2015, the Prime Minister launched his new Challenge on Dementia 2020 to make sure that dementia care, support, awareness and research are transformed by 2020. The Challenge Implementation Plan, published in March 2016, set out the actions partners across health and care will take to ensure commitments in the 2020 Challenge are delivered. These include:

― every person diagnosed with dementia having meaningful care following their diagnosis, which supports them and those around them;

― information made available locally on post-diagnosis services and how these can be accessed;

― access to relevant advice and support to help and advice on what happens after a diagnosis and the support available through the journey; and

― carers of people with dementia being made aware of and offered the opportunity for respite, education, training, emotional and psychological support so that they feel able to cope with their caring responsibilities and to have a life alongside caring.

Alongside the Implementation Plan the Department has published, together with key dementia stakeholders, a “Joint Declaration on Post-Diagnostic Dementia Care and Support”. This sets out the key principles of good quality post-diagnostic care for people with dementia. All partners across the health and social care system are working to deliver services in line with the Joint Declaration and Implementation Plan.