Put dementia at heart of NHS priorities, charities tell Hancock

DEMENTIA charities have told the new Health Secretary they are “deeply concerned” he is ignoring the “greatest health challenge of our time”.

Senior figures have accused Matt Hancock and Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England, of failing to prioritise dementia in their 10-year plan for the health service. Since Mr Hancock was appointed Health Secretary last month, he has set out a number of priorities, including workforce, technology and prevention of ill health.

Mr Stevens has said a £20billion investment in the NHS promised by Theresa May will see an expansion in services, including cancer and mental health, with no mention of dementia.

In the open letter to Mr Hancock, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Dementia UK and Alzheimer’s Scotland urged the Health Secretary to put dementia “at the heart” of such plans. The charities also urge the Government to end inequities faced by those with the disease by reforming the social care system in a consultation paper due this year.

“With the Rt Hon Matt Hancock’s recently announced priorities for the health and social care system, and priorities set out by Simon Stevens for NHS England’s 10-year plan, we are deeply concerned that dementia has not been recognised in these top areas of focus,” the charities write. “It is difficult to imagine any strategic plan that fails to acknowledge the UK’S leading cause of death,” they warn.

Hilary Evans, the chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “It’s imperative that our health system is able to respond to the challenges dementia poses today and in the future, and we must begin by placing dementia at the heart of its priorities.”

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “We remain committed to making this the best country in the world for dementia care, support, research and awareness.”

SIR – Surveying the Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s recently announced priorities for the health and social care system, and those set out by Simon Stevens for NHS England’s 10-year plan, we are deeply concerned that dementia has not been recognised in these top areas of focus.

It is difficult to imagine any strategic plan that fails to acknowledge the UK’S leading cause of death. Dementia presents the greatest health challenge of our time, but we can act today to change this.

Dementia must be named a top priority in the NHS 10-year plan. The Government must increase funding for dementia research to widen the search for effective treatments and plan for their swift delivery. We must improve early detection and accurate diagnosis, and provide greater support following diagnosis to better the lives of families living with the condition.

We must end the inequity people with dementia face by reforming the social care system. We request that dementia care is also made a top priority in the social care green paper, due in the autumn.

We ask the Health Secretary to put dementia and the millions affected by the condition at the heart of his plans, ensuring the NHS and social care system improve the care of people with dementia and prepare the way for future treatments. Hilary Evans

Chief Executive Alzheimer’s Research UK Jim Pearson

Director of Policy Alzheimer’s Scotland Dr Hilda Hayo

Chief Admiral Nurse and Chief Executive, Dementia UK