Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people diagnosed with dementia have access to clinical support within a reasonable travelling distance from their home.

The Government is committed to delivering the Challenge on Dementia 2020 to make England the world-leader in dementia care and support, research and awareness by 2020. The joint declaration on post-diagnostic dementia care and support is an unequivocal joint commitment between the Government, health, social care, and the third sector to improve care and support for people with dementia.

Local clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are responsible for services and support for people with dementia. The Government and NHS England would expect CCGs to commission services that take into account relevant guidance, including National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, and the Dementia Care Pathway, which sets out benchmarks to improve the delivery and quality of care and support.