Prime Minister Andy Burnham is under increasing pressure to set a national waiting-time target for dementia care in England. This comes after a former national cancer director for Alzheimer’s and Baroness Louise Casey, speaking on behalf of both the Society and the King’s Trust, criticized the current system as being “stuck in the 20th century.” In a recent speech, they emphasized the need for a “cancer-style revolution” in dementia care, arguing that the way we approach Alzheimer’s and dementia should be as urgent as cancer treatment.
Burnham acknowledged that dementia care has been “neglected for far too long.” He committed to appointing a senior official to oversee dementia services and to publish a comprehensive new plan—referred to as a modern service framework—by the end of the year. Currently, there are no waiting-time targets for dementia in England, which starkly contrasts with the NHS’s established targets for cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Professor Richards, who previously served as the national cancer director when cancer targets were introduced in 2000, believes that an 18-week referral-to-treatment target for dementia patients is not only achievable but necessary. He pointed out that achieving this goal would require both “political initiative” and additional funding. Baroness Casey reiterated this sentiment in a letter she sent to former Health Secretary Wes Streeting in March, urging the government to adopt a similar approach to dementia care.
During an interview with the BBC, Baroness Casey expressed her support for the idea of emulating cancer care protocols, stating, “It’s time we started saying, yes, we should have a similar mission, and we should do as much as we possibly can on dementia.” This call for action resonates with many families who are currently facing long waits for dementia diagnoses, which can often lead to devastating consequences.
Returning from compassionate leave, Burnham shared that his father’s experiences with dementia had inspired him to push for these changes. He reflected on his father’s recommendations for social care reform, emphasizing the need for a system that adequately supports families affected by dementia.
As families continue to suffer from long wait times for diagnoses, many advocates are determined to fight for better care and to break the stigma surrounding dementia. With mounting pressure from health professionals and families alike, it remains to be seen how swiftly the government will act on these urgent calls for reform.
Kaynak: Orijinal Haber