Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps are being taken to ensure dementia diagnosis pathways align with NHS access standards for timely assessment and treatment.

We recognise the importance of a timely diagnosis and remain committed to increasing diagnosis rates and ensuring people can access any treatment licensed or recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, and support they need.

We will deliver the first ever Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. This will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care, which is expected this year.

As part of this exercise, we are considering all options to help reduce variation, including reviewing metrics and targets.