Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of reasons for the fall in dementia diagnosis rates in St Albans; and if he will make a statement.

The pandemic had a significant impact on memory assessment services and general practitioner referrals to those services through the re-prioritisation of health and care provision and the instruction for older people to shield and remain at home. This ongoing disruption has impeded the recovery of the dementia diagnosis rate in England, including in St Albans.

In 2021/22, we allocated £17 million to address dementia waiting lists and increase the number of diagnoses. We will set out plans for dementia in England in the next 10 years later this year, which will include a focus on diagnosis.