Alzheimer's Society: Dementia care in appalling state
Thursday, 24 Jan 2008 09:58
The Alzheimer's Society has backed a critical report of dementia care in the UK, saying it is currently in an "appalling state".
Dementia affects over 560,000 people in England and costs society about £14 billion a year.
A report from the public accounts committee (PAC) said treatment of dementia and support for carers needs to be prioritised and accused the Department of Health of failing to give dementia care the proper focus for improvement.
"Dementia is the cancer of the 1950s yet the government is only just beginning to wake up to the reality of dementia," said Alzheimer's Society chief executive Neil Hunt.
The charity is currently working with the government to develop the first national dementia strategy and warned that "the scale of the challenge cannot be underestimated".
Mr Hunt commented: "The strategy must contain real actions; be met with real commitment and backed by adequate resources if it is to make a real difference to people's lives.
"The public accounts committee is right: dementia needs to be given the same priority as heart disease and cancer in the NHS.
"We need public awareness campaigns; dementia training for all health and social care staff; and services that can diagnose people early."
He added: "The human and economic cost of dementia can't be ignored - if we live to 65, one in three of us will die with dementia."
