Campaigners including broadcaster Jon Snow, who has dementia, are calling for a “bold and ambitious” strategy for quicker access to accurate diagnosis, as research shows patients face months of delays.
Actors Sir Jonathan Pryce, Dame Meera Syal, Suranne Jones and Vicky McClure – all Alzheimer’s Society ambassadors – signed the letter delivered to Downing Street on Wednesday, demanding “better for everyone affected by dementia”.
In June, the veteran presenter revealed he was diagnosed in 2023 with Alzheimer’s, the most common form of the condition.
He is backing the Alzheimer’s Society’s push for systemic action.
A charity survey of over 1,000 UK carers showed nearly half (45 per cent) waited longer than six months for a diagnosis after first seeking medical help.
open image in galleryAmong 868 carers supporting someone with a formal diagnosis, 46 per cent said the wait impacted their work, 35 per cent felt it disrupted future planning, and three in 10 felt life was on hold.
The charity wants a nationally recognised standard guaranteeing patients an accurate diagnosis within 18 weeks of GP referral, alongside a care plan and access to treatments.
The organisation noted such targets already exist for all other major conditions.
The letter calls on the Government to “set an ambitious goal to reduce the number of people that die from dementia; ensure robust plans are in place to deliver disease modifying treatments, as they become available; support the delivery of high-quality dementia training for the social care workforce; and ensure everyone can access an early and accurate diagnosis”.
Michelle Dyson chief executive at Alzheimer’s Society, said leaving someone to “work out the next steps on their own” would be unacceptable for cancer, but remains “the reality for too many people affected by dementia”.
She said: “A dementia diagnosis can bring answers, understanding and access to the support, treatment and care that can make a real difference to people’s lives. But we know things can be so much better.
“Too many families spend months, and sometimes years, waiting for answers while their dementia progresses. It is like trying to plan a journey without knowing where you are going or when you will arrive. Behind every delayed diagnosis is a family living with uncertainty and trying to prepare for the future without the support they need.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “This Government is determined to strengthen the support that is available both to individuals affected by dementia, and the family members who look after them.
“We are bringing forward the timetable for Baroness Casey’s commission on reform of the social care system, and we are appointing a new dementia tsar to help lead our work in that area, as recommended by Baroness Casey.
“We are also implementing a new action plan for unpaid carers to ensure that they receive the support and recognition they deserve for the selfless work they do.”