Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to integrate social care systems in pursuit of good outcomes for those diagnosed with dementia.

Access to a timely and seamless package of care and support is essential for people with dementia and their carers to live well with the condition. On 28 February 2014 the Secretary of State published his ambition that everyone diagnosed with dementia should receive high quality post-diagnosis support, including seamless care, with health and social care professionals working together to provide the best care and support.

The Better Care Fund is the biggest ever financial incentive for the integration of health and social care. Central Government requires at least £3.8 billion of health and social care budgets to be pooled via the Better Care Fund, with local areas choosing to add another £1.5 billion to pooled budgets across the country. From April 2015, councils and the National Health Service will be able to use the Better Care Fund to work with each other and the voluntary sector. Local areas can use some of this to improve outcomes for people with dementia, such as for example providing access to dementia advisors, reminiscence services and counselling. More generally, the Better Care Fund plans set out areas’ schemes for delivering integrated health and social care, many of which will benefit people diagnosed with dementia.