Dementia Post-Diagnostic Support figures moving at glacial pace
Figures released today by Public Health Scotland reveal that less than half of people (43.4%) estimated to have had a new dementia diagnosis in 2018/19 were referred to vital post-diagnostic support.
Age Scotland, the national charity for older people, has described the figures as nowhere near high enough and said that progress is moving at a “glacial pace”.
On average, 75.1% of those referred across Scotland received the minimum 1 year post-diagnostic support. In 2017-18, the percentage was 73.0%.
According to the report, 43.4% of those estimated to be newly diagnosed with dementia in Scotland were referred for post-diagnostic support in 2018-19 (compared to 42.3% in 2017-18). There were 8,021 people diagnosed and referred for post-diagnostic support in 2018-19, compared to 7,607 in 2017-18.
The percentage of referrals who received a minimum of one year’s post-diagnostic support varied by health board, with the Western Isles (94.1%) and Fife (93.7%) at the top of the list and Shetland (57.1%), Lothian (61%) and Greater Glasgow and Clyde (63.6%) at the bottom.
Brian Sloan, Age Scotland’s Chief Executive said:
“These figures demonstrate the glacial pace of progress. Ensuring that people newly diagnosed with dementia have access to the post-diagnostic support available to them is vital, but during this period less than half were referred. There is only a 1% improvement on the year before, with nearly 55% missing out.
“On the face of it, there is also a considerable variation across all health boards in referrals and completion of this post-diagnostic support. This isn’t anywhere near high enough to meet the need. We’ve got to do so much better for people affected by dementia as the number of people living with it will increase significantly over the next decade.”
Dr Kainde Manji, Manager of About Dementia, Age Scotland’s policy and practice forum for improving the lives of people affected by dementia, said:
“We need to increase diagnosis rates as there is evidence that they are lower that would be expected for Scotland’s demographics. Without a diagnosis, people living with dementia and unpaid carers are unable to access critical support, and we hear of too many who give up part way through because of their experiences.
"Diagnosis can lead to entitlement to certain benefits, as well as legal entitlements such as reasonable adjustments at work which can help people with young onset to continue working for longer if they wish to. It can also entitle carers to their rights through the Carer’s Act.
“We need to tackle the stigma of dementia, but also improve access to social care for older people to help them to lead a full and active life. It is also important to bolster the range of community based support that are available and that have proved so critical in the past year.”
