Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to end geographical disparities in (1) Alzheimer's, and (2) dementia, care.

Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are responsible for services and support for people with dementia. We would expect CCGs to commission services which take into account the relevant guidance, such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines and the dementia care pathway, which provides standards to improve the delivery and quality of care. Following a dementia diagnosis, patients should receive information on local services and access to relevant advice and support.

In 2021/22, the Government allocated £17 million to NHS England and NHS Improvement to address dementia waiting lists and increase the number of diagnoses. This funding was made available to CCGs in June 2021. Later this year, we will set out plans for dementia in England.