Dementia delays leave 'dangerous gaps' in care

PATIENTS are being forced to wait up to two years for a dementia diagnosis as a report claimed serious gaps in care point towards a "Government failure".

- ROBERT WHITE

Care England - a registered charity which represents independent providers of adult social care - has published a review into outcomes for dementia patients.

The report states there are ongoing gaps in diagnosis, significant regional disparities, and serious challenges in the coordination of care.

It states the average waiting time from referral to dementia diagnosis has increased by more than a third, from 13 weeks in 2019 to 17.7 weeks.

The review - called The Current State Of Dementia Diagnosis & Care In England - adds that waiting times from referral to diagnosis in England are now hitting the two-year mark, in comparison to a maximum waiting time of 34 weeks in 2019.

Care England says the findings point towards a "Government failure to deliver timely and effective strategies to address the growing demand for dementia services".