Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to increase access to specialist dementia nurses in hospitals.

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

Provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). NHS England would expect the ICBs to commission services based on local population needs, taking account of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines, and working closely with the third sector in their geographical area to offer appropriate services. Local authorities are required to provide or arrange services that meet the social care needs of the local population, including carers, under the Care Act 2014.