Dementia Post Diagnostic Support figures “very poor” says Age Scotland

New figures show only a third of people diagnosed with dementia referred for the support they were entitles to in 2020/21.

Only one third of people (33.7%) diagnosed with dementia in 2020/21 were referred to the one year guaranteed Post Diagnostic Support they were entitled to, down from 42.9% the previous year, according to new figures published today by Public Health Scotland.

Age Scotland has described these figures as “very poor” and called for a new approach to the delivery of Post Diagnostic Support so that many more people living with dementia get what they are entitled to in a way that meets their need.

Of those referred for Post Diagnostic Support in 2020/21, 81% received it (6,569 people) – down very slightly from 81.1% (8,137) the year before. Far fewer people therefore had access to their entitlement.

There were 19,473 people newly diagnosed with dementia in 2020/21 and in 2019/20 it was 18,989.

Dr Kainde Manji, Head of Dementia at Age Scotland, said:

“These figures are very poor and are a great cause for concern. While they refer to the peak periods of Covid-19 when access to healthcare was severely restricted, there were nearly 13,000 people newly diagnosed with dementia who, as a result and for a multitude of reasons, didn’t get the support they needed and were entitled to. Their quality of life will have been poorer for this and demonstrates the far-reaching impact the pandemic has had on people’s lives.

“Community groups and organisations were not only stepping in to pick up where central services may have struggled during this time, but became lifelines to people with dementia. Their value is vast and shows clearly why this approach needs much more investment.

“But even before the Covid-19 pandemic the number of people referred to Post Diagnostic Support was shockingly low. There is a long way to go to ensure people living with dementia get what they need to live as well as they can.

“We need a new approach to dementia Post Diagnostic Support which embraces community-based, tailored and person-centred support, such as Meeting Centres, and renewed action on early diagnosis, which can help people with dementia to live well for longer.

“The new National Dementia Strategy is a chance to do things differently and we eagerly anticipate its publication. We would call for any new minister of Health and Social Care to honour the approach taken by Kevin Stewart to involve people with lived experience within dementia policymaking.”