A Failing System for Dementia Care
Dementia care in the UK is facing a significant crisis, with patients being let down at every stage of their journey. A landmark report by the Alzheimer’s Society highlights a system that is failing to provide timely and effective support for those affected by the condition. This issue is particularly concerning when compared to the care received for other serious illnesses such as cancer or heart disease.
The Scale of the Crisis
The report, released in partnership with the Daily Mail’s Defeating Dementia campaign, reveals a staggering scale of the problem. From the first symptoms to diagnosis, patients wait an average of 3.5 years. One in five patients say they received no support after diagnosis, with families describing the experience as being “released into the wild.” Additionally, only half of those prescribed dementia medication remain on it for a year, despite the benefits of continued treatment.
Michelle Dyson, chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Society, emphasizes the need for change. She states, “Dementia care in the UK is stuck in a system of delay, denial and neglect.” She further notes that in the digital age of instant answers, people are still waiting far too long for a diagnosis of the country’s biggest killer. This situation would never be tolerated in cancer care, yet for dementia, it has become routine.
The Impact of Dementia
Currently, around one million people in the UK are living with dementia, a figure set to reach 1.4 million by 2040. The condition already costs Britain £42 billion a year, with projections indicating this could more than double to £90 billion within fifteen years. Despite these figures, the Alzheimer’s Society’s new report, Unlocking the Door, reveals that patients are regularly failed by the NHS.
Delays and Inequities in Care
Newly-diagnosed dementia patients on average wait more than 5 months before they are referred to a specialist memory clinic. Only a third of patients are offered cognitive stimulation therapy—group activity sessions that have been proven to improve memory, mood, and daily functioning skills. The charity also points out that access to diagnosis, treatment, and social care services varies depending on postcode, highlighting significant regional disparities.
Barriers to Treatment
The findings come almost a year after NHS spending chiefs rejected two new dementia drugs: lecanemab and donanemab. These are the first-ever medicines proven to slow the progression of the disease. However, in June 2025, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) rejected them for NHS use in England and Wales, citing the cost of implementation as “substantially higher” than acceptable for taxpayers’ money.
In March, NICE agreed to look again at the evidence supporting the rollout of lecaneb and donanemab.
Calls for Government Action
The Alzheimer’s Society is now calling on the Government to introduce clear national targets, a structured care pathway, and equal access to treatment regardless of postcode, ethnicity, or income. Michelle Dyson states, “This is not a backlog problem. It is a system that is missing people at every stage.” She adds, “While the system waits, dementia progresses—stealing time, independence and dignity. While politicians race to cut waiting lists, people with dementia aren’t even in the queue. Government action can’t wait.”
NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care have been approached for comment.
