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Dementia care 'must improve'

24/01/2008

Dementia care must be given the same priority as cancer and coronary heart disease, an influential committee of MPs said today.

Its report on dementia treatment in the UK says without this priority the NHS has not afforded dementia the same focus for improvement.

The public accounts committee (PAC) says large numbers of people are being failed by their GPs and carers are poorly supported.

To improve care the PAC says dementia should be given a single leader within the Department of Health with the power to make improvements in diagnosis, treatment and care.

Dementia, the term for a range of progressive, terminal organic brain diseases, affects over 560,000 people in England and costs about £14 billion a year.

PAC chairman Edward Leigh said dementia is "one of the last great taboo subjects" that is "neglected by health and social care services".

"We neglect dementia at our peril, however, given that the number of cases is predicted to soar by over 30 per cent over the next 15 years, as the average age of the population increases," he added.

"Many sufferers are also not being diagnosed early enough and, when diagnosed, end up in hospital beds or care homes, deprived of the specialist care they need.

"The task of looking after a sufferer falls in most cases on informal carers, usually family members. They play a vital role but their burden is a heavy one and they in no way receive the level of support they need from the system."

Mr Leigh concluded: "It is essential that local health organisations and social care providers take action now to assess carers' needs and work towards meeting them."

Commenting on the report, health minister Ivan Lewis said dementia is "one of the major challenges facing families, the NHS and the care system".

"Last August, I acknowledged that too many people are let down by existing services and 'bringing dementia out of the shadows' is now one of our top priorities," he added.

"In partnership with the Alzheimer's Society, we are developing a national plan to improve services which we will launch in the autumn following consultation with families and professionals.

"I am determined to transform the support available to families affected by this harrowing illness. We welcome the PAC report and will consider the recommendations in the context of the work taking place on the strategy."