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This from David Moorse, Shanklin. Ed
As your constituent, I’m writing to update you about Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Action Week Parliamentary Drop-In Event, held on 17th May.
Those in attendance were able to hear directly from Koula and Eamonn, both of whom live with dementia, about the importance of timely and accurate diagnosis.
MPs were also able to find out the diagnosis rate in their constituency and see the traffic light colour (red, amber or green) that Alzheimer’s Society has assigned to it based on how the rate compares to the national ambition that 66.7 per cent of people living with dementia should have a diagnosis.
IW significantly below national target for diagnosis rates
Your constituency [our home] is red, which means that it is significantly below the national target for diagnosis rates.
This means that that there are a lot of people living with dementia locally who aren’t getting the diagnosis and support that need. Everyone deserves an accurate, timely and quality diagnosis – no matter where they live.
Dementia is not an inevitable part of getting old
It’s so important that as many people as possible know that dementia is not an inevitable part of getting old. By increasing knowledge of this, more people will come forward to seek the vital diagnosis they need.
Yet too often, a dementia diagnosis is a postcode lottery, with too many people, in too many places losing out.
Diagnosis needed for access to support
For people living with dementia to access the support, care and treatment they need, they must have a diagnosis.
Nine in ten people living with dementia surveyed by Alzheimer’s Society believe that a diagnosis has benefitted them.
Take action to improve diagnosis rates
Dementia is a cause close to my heart, and it would mean a lot to me if you were able to take action to improve dementia diagnosis rates across the country.
Alzheimer’s Society are on hand to help with this, supporting with briefings and any other information you may need.
They can be contacted at [email protected].
