According to research, more than 325,000 people are suffering from dementia in England. However, they have never been diagnosed.
Diagnosis rates have fallen below the Government’s target of two-thirds since the pandemic began.
According to the report, there’s a lottery among postcodes in regards to who gets diagnosed. The proportions range from 83% to 50%.
NHS England set the goal in 2013 to provide support and diagnosis for at least two thirds of those with dementia.
According to NHS Digital, the rate dropped from 68% in February 2020 down to 62 percent in March.
Consultancy Future Health reported that the data indicates more than 325,000 English citizens may not have been diagnosed with dementia.
It was reported that 430,000 people were diagnosed with dementia between 2020 and 2021. Only four percent of the population had dementia.
According to the study, the Midlands have the highest rate of undiagnosed forms of dementia. London and North West are the least.
The analysis revealed regional differences. The diagnosis rate in Stoke-on-Trent is 83%, while it’s only 48% for nearby Stafford.
An estimated 676,000 and 850,000 in the UK have dementia.
NHS Digital compares dementia prevalence to the actual number of patients.
Memory loss, mood swings and difficulty concentrating are all signs of dementia.
The report, funded by a grant from pharmaceutical giant Roche, argues £3billion could be saved with better diagnosis rates.
The new tools can be used to identify people at highest risk. It also allows for the sending of diagnostic equipment to locations that are most need.
Richard Sloggett, founder of Future Health and a former special adviser to Matt Hancock when he was health secretary, said: ‘The pandemic has set back the progress made on dementia diagnosis rates and urgent action is now needed to support recovery.
Regional disparities must be addressed in the dementia strategy, especially in terms of rural access and how patients can get a diagnosis.
‘New targets, investment in diagnostics and technology along with a public health campaign can all help deliver a dementia diagnostic recovery that ensures patients get access to the treatment, care and support they deserve.’
Fiona Carragher, director of research and influencing at the Alzheimer’s Society, said the study was evidence of ‘the need to address regional and health disparities to improve the experience of diagnosis in a fair way’.
Roche – a pharmaceutical company says that using new digital tools to monitor people at risk and sending diagnosis equipment to areas most in need of it would save the NHS £3billion
She added: ‘As we move beyond the Covid-19 pandemic, we must now urgently work together to improve diagnosis, ongoing care and outcomes for people living with dementia.’
Tory MP Laurence Robertson, a vice-chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on dementia, said: ‘The latest figures show how important the Government’s new dementia strategy is.
‘As with most illnesses, the earlier dementia is diagnosed the better for a patient’s quality of life and to make sure they get the right treatment they need.’