Lewis Pledges To ‘Address Dementia Care Gaps’

Health minister Ivan Lewis has pledged that the government will act upon the findings of a highly critical report into dementia care. According to the National Audit Office (NAO), there are “significant gaps” in the way Britain’s health services deal with dementia patients.

NAO chief Sir John Bourn says dementia can “no longer be set aside” and urges that the issues raised in the report be addressed as a “matter of urgency”.

Mr Lewis reflected that dementia, which affects at least 560,000 people in England, is now “one of the greatest challenges facing our society as we address the consequences of demographic change”. He said that the government recognises that early diagnosis is “crucial for providing better care for individuals”.

“The reward scheme for GPs introduced last year… means that they have specific incentives to identify quickly those with early stage dementia and refer them to the specialist care they need,” he said.

“However we know a lot more needs to be done and I can announce today that I will be working with the Alzheimer’s Society and others to address the findings of the NAO report.

“We have a duty to strengthen mental health services so they ensure older people and their families are treated at all times with dignity and respect.” He added that the NHS and local government “must recognise that dementia is now one of the key priorities for every local care system”.