Less than half of people living with dementia have a formal diagnosis, official figures show.
The rate has improved only slightly – from 46 per cent to 48 per cent – over the last two years.
And there are wide discrepancies across different areas, with the best rates of diagnosis almost twice that of the worst – 75 per cent versus 39 per cent.
The significant gaps in care for dementia sufferers will be exposed on an interactive online map put out by the Government as part of a bid to improve the way they are treated by the health service.
In some areas of the country about three-quarters of people are getting a diagnosis. In other areas it’s less than a third. It is really disgraceful
The map shows diagnosis rates, referral rates and the frequency of anti-psychotic drug prescription for the 670,000 people with dementia. It is part of a “state of the nation” report on the condition ahead of a G8 nations Dementia Summit in London next month, hosted by David Cameron.
The World Health Organisation says the number of people living with dementia worldwide could more than treble to 115 million by 2050, due to the ageing population.
The figure is expected to pass the million mark in the UK by the end of 2020.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “Dementia is one of the biggest challenges we face as a nation. Full transparency is the best way to drive up standards and tackle poor performance.”
The report points to an almost doubling in Government-funded research, a four-fold increase in the number assessed by memory clinics, and training for 108,000 NHS staff in spotting early symptoms.
But Alzheimer’s Society director of external affairs, Alison Cook, is not impressed.
She said: “In some areas of the country about three-quarters of people are getting a diagnosis. In other areas it’s less than a third. It is really disgraceful.
“This map is a step in the right direction, because naming those areas not doing very well and pointing in the direction of areas which are doing very well means that they can copy best practice.”