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 ensure that every Integrated Care Board in England has a dedicated care pathway in place for people living with young onset dementia.

NHS England is committed to delivering high quality care and support for every person with dementia at every age, and central to this is the provision of personalised care.

The Well Pathway for Dementia highlights that services need to be integrated, commissioned, monitored, and aligned with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) standards for each component of the pathway. It makes it clear that the needs, wishes, and preferences of each individual, including those with young onset dementia, should be taken into account when planning and providing their care.

The provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). NHS England would expect ICBs to commission services based on local population needs, taking account of NICE’s guidelines. It is the responsibility of ICBs to work within their geographical area to offer services that meet the needs of their population.