New memory clinics to treat dementia
The government is planning a new series of clinics dedicated to spotting and dealing with dementia and Alzheimer's.
What's the story?
There's to be a new 5-year National Dementia Strategy to improve services for people with dementia, with the government creating a network of 'memory clinics' and making sure that a top doctor oversees dementia care in each hospital in England.
Why has this been done?
The number of dementia sufferers is currently around 700,000 in the UK, but it's rising fast because we're all living longer. The number is expected to double in the next 30 years.
How much will this all cost?
The government has so far pledged £150m over the first 2 years, which is intended to save £1bn by improving the treatment and diagnosis of dementia.
But some experts remain concerned that more investment is needed to solve a possible dementia crisis.
'Within a generation, dementia will affect 1.5 million people in the UK, costing our economy £50 billion each year,' said Rebecca Wood of the Alzheimer's Research Trust. 'Yet dementia research still receives eight times less government support than cancer research.'
What will the strategy achieve?
The overall aim is to improve current services for sufferers and try to spot dementia earlier.
'It takes on average 3 years after the disease begins for people to be diagnosed,' says Care Services Minister Phil Hope. 'This is partly because of the stigma and also a lot of GPs are not trained to spot the early signs.'
The theory is that people can expect an extra 2 years outside a care home if they get the right advice early enough.
The clinics will also offer support and information to carers, as well expert assessment for those with memory problems.
What do the experts say?
'One million people will develop dementia in the next 10 years,' says Neil Hunt from the Alzheimer's Society, who welcomed the move. 'This is a momentous opportunity to avert a dementia crisis that could overwhelm the NHS and social care.'
However, Professor Roy Jones director of the Research for the Care of Older People in Bath was more sceptical about the government's new plans: 'We need a memory assessment in every major town linked to specialist centres like ours, because diagnosis isn't the easiest. It's not just doing a simple test and saying you have or haven't got it.'
More help and advice
- Read more facts about memory loss and dementia
- Find out more about Alzheimer's
- Dementia link to high blood pressure
- Improve your memory: 10 ways to keep your brain young
By Rob Mansfield
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