Dear Secretary of State,
We write to you as proud Alzheimer’s Society campaigners to call on you to ensure the Major Conditions Strategy reflects what’s most important to us as people living with, and affected by dementia, and makes dementia a priority.
As you’ll know, recent ONS data found that dementia and Alzheimer’s were the leading causes of death in England and Wales in 2022. 900,000 people live with dementia in the UK right now – and this figure will rise to 1.6m people by 2040. People living with dementia will draw heavily on both health and social care services, meaning it is a whole system challenge that needs a whole system solution.
It is vital that the Major Conditions Strategy is utilised to set in motion a long-term plan for action on dementia, one of the biggest health and care challenges of our time. When we handed in our petition on making dementia a priority in January 2023, we were clear in saying dementia doesn’t wait for due course. Action is needed now to ensure that everyone living with dementia gets the diagnosis, support, and, hopefully soon, the disease-modifying treatment they need.
As the Government’s call for evidence closes, we ask that you ensure that evidence gathered, analysed, and previously due to be featured in the 10-year plan for dementia is utilised in the development of the Major Conditions Strategy. The time and effort that people living with dementia gave in previous consultations must be valued through inclusion in the Government’s plans.
As work on the Major Conditions Strategy continues, our calls remain steadfast. We are united in wanting to see the Strategy:
-
Driving forward the improvement of dementia diagnosis rates through a funded plan, to ensure that everyone receives a timely and accurate dementia diagnosis, regardless of their background, or where they live.
-
Developing strategies to support diagnosis methods and deliver access to breakthrough treatments as soon as they become available. Only with accurate subtype diagnosis and further research investment will this be possible.
-
Delivering an improved pathway for people living with dementia navigating the health and social care system, enabling everyone to access personalised care which meets their needs.
-
Demonstrating how data underpins the delivery of the Strategy as a whole, and how improvements to data collection at every stage of the dementia pathway will be implemented.
We appreciate the opportunity to feed into the Major Conditions Strategy via the Government’s recent call for evidence, but we also want to be clear that we are united behind the points above. You have the opportunity to ensure dementia is prioritised both now and in future by prioritising our calls. Please stand with us so everyone living with dementia has the help and hope they need.
Yours Sincerely,
Alzheimer’s Society campaigners
