Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make it her policy to increase funding for diagnosis in the dementia strategy.

Timely diagnosis of dementia is vital to ensure that a person with dementia can access the advice, information, care, and support that can help them to live well with the condition and remain independent for as long as possible.

In 2021/22, the Government allocated £17 million to NHS England to address dementia waiting lists and increase the number of diagnoses. NHS England will share reporting on the impact of this funding and examples of good practice with dementia clinical networks and stakeholders by March 2024.

On 24 January 2023, the Government announced that it will publish a Major Conditions Strategy covering six conditions including dementia. Our Major Conditions Strategy will consider prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care to support people to stay in good health for longer.