AQW 12661/22-27


Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry


Tabled Date: 29/05/2024
Answered On Date: 17/06/2024
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail the steps he is taking to ensure the timely (i) diagnosis; and (ii) treatment of dementia.


Answer:
There is a commitment across Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland to improving timely access to accurate diagnosis and treatment for people living with Dementia.
The Department has issued a 9-week target which sets out that people should have a first assessment within that timescale. All Trusts have advised that they employ a rigorous triaging regime on receipt of dementia referrals to ensure that those individuals at greatest risk are seen first. My officials continue to engage with the Health and Social Care Trusts in order to scrutinize performance against this 9-week target and monitor the numbers of new and review clinic appointments which have been achieved.
The diagnostic rate for dementia in Northern Ireland has improved to 62% comparative rates in England are reported as 64.6%. The majority of those patients receive a diagnosis at their first appointment and will start an appropriate medication.
In relation to waiting times, as of 30th April 2024, there were 58.3% breaches of the 9-week target. Therefore, 2,663 people were awaiting first assessment, with 1,553 people waiting for more than 9 weeks.
In relation to treatment of Dementia, Northern Ireland was one of the first regions to make dementia medications available to citizens. There is free prescribing of the currently available drugs- Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors and Memantine.
My officials have held the inaugural meeting of a Regional Dementia Project Board on 24th May 2024. The project board aims to support the delivery of existing dementia services, as well as consider future service delivery models. Key priorities for the Regional Dementia Project Board will be to decrease waiting times for assessment and diagnosis, to consider steps to improve efficiency in systems and processes across the region, to consider regional approaches to training, to improve the experience of diagnosis for people with dementia and their relatives/carers and to formulate a clear regional vision of services into the future.