Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what support the NHS provides to people with dementia and their carers in the East of England.

Dementia is a key priority for this Government and we are committed to ensuring people with dementia and their carers receive the best possible care in all care settings. In 2012 the Government launched the first ever Prime Minister’s Challenge on dementia to increase diagnosis rates, raise awareness and understanding and double funding for research in dementia by 2015.

The provision of local dementia services is a matter for the local National Health Service. NHS England advises that an East of England Strategic Clinical Network for Mental Health, Dementia, Neurological Conditions, Learning Disability and Autism (SCN) was established in April 2013 to enable and support service and quality improvements, and better patient outcomes. In addition, the Strategic Dementia Advisory Group, established in September 2013, facilitates and oversees the work of the SCN and is an expert body which provides advice and peer support to partners in dementia care across the East of England.

My hon. Friend may wish to contact NHS England for further information on support available for dementia patients and their carers in the East of England.