Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure (a) timely and (b) accurate diagnosis of dementia in Solihull constituency.

There are currently a number of initiatives focused on dementia diagnosis, including those seeking to address diagnosis gaps:

- in primary care, general practices (GPs) are being supported to identify patients that may need referral to dementia diagnosis services;

- a nationally recognised Diadem tool is being led by the Memory Assessment Service and is being used at GP level to assist in the diagnosis of patients living in a care home setting, including in Solihull; and

- a pilot scheme in North Solihull involving a dedicated primary care dementia link worker facilitated by the Alzheimer’s Society is supporting primary care in the identification and assessments of people living with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

In conjunction with the above, in May 2023 Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board published its ‘2023-2028 Birmingham & Solihull ICB Dementia Strategy’, developed in close partnership with both Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and Birmingham City Council and Public Health colleagues, and has resulted in a joint strategic action plan focused on prevention, diagnosis, treatment and support.

The action plan seeks to address gaps in information and access and health inequalities, and places emphasis on all commissioners in its delivery while strengthening the educational support for care homes across Solihull.