Dame Judi: People wait too long for dementia diagnosis ...if they can get one at all

DAME Judi Dench is calling on the Government to give people with dementia an earlier diagnosis on the NHS.

- By Jane Kirby

The Oscar-winning actress is backing a campaign and petition by Alzheimer's Research UK for those with the condition to be told more quickly if they have it.

Dame Judi won a BAFTA for her performance as British novelist Iris Murdoch in the 2002 film Iris.

Ms Murdoch was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at the age of 76 and died four years later in 1999. Jim Broadbent won the best supporting actor Oscar playing the writer's husband John Bayley.

Dame Judi's backing for Dementia Unseen, Alzheimer's Research UK's campaign, follows her work on the movie, which also starred Kate Winslet as young Iris.

And it comes after the NHS target to ensure 66.7% of people with dementia receive a diagnosis was removed from NHS planning guidance for 2025-26.