Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the implications for his Department's policies are of the relative increase in the number of people dying as a result of dementia as opposed to heart disease.

In February 2015, we published the Challenge on Dementia 2020 to ensure that dementia care, support, awareness and research are transformed. By 2020, we want to see greater awareness and understanding of factors that can increase the risk of developing dementia and how people can reduce their risk by living a more healthy lifestyle. Public Health England has lead responsibility and will continue to reduce the incidence and prevalence of dementia through its work on initiatives such as the NHS Health Check and reducing health inequalities.

We have an ageing population with people living for longer and with more complex co-morbid health conditions. We have made great strides in the number of people with dementia receiving a diagnosis. Timely diagnosis unlocks the door to appropriate care and treatment.

To ensure a coordinated approach to supporting people with dementia, we published the ‘Joint Declaration on Dementia Post-Diagnostic Care and Support’ in January 2016 signed by leaders across the health, social care, local government and voluntary sector organisations. It sets out our joint ambition to improve the quality of post-diagnostic care and defines the principles that organisations should take into account when providing high quality care and support for people with dementia and their carers.

On 5 July 2016, we set out our plans to improve end of life care in England. Our proposals are based on a commitment to high quality, personalised end of life care that we are making to all people at, or approaching the end of life.