Damning new statistics have exposed a stark postcode lottery in dementia care across the UK, with the National Health Service failing to meet crucial diagnosis targets in more than half of the country. The revelations come as dementia remains the nation's biggest killer, responsible for one in nine deaths and claiming approximately 76,000 lives annually.
The Diagnosis Deficit and a National Campaign
The NHS has an official ambition to identify at least two-thirds of people living with dementia, a target set to ensure individuals receive timely help and treatment. However, diagnosis rates plummeted during the Covid-19 pandemic and have never fully recovered, leaving tens of thousands to cope with the condition alone. Analysis shows the health service is currently detecting only around 66.5% of estimated cases nationally, just 0.2% shy of the 66.7% goal.
In response to these alarming figures, a major campaign has been launched in association with the Alzheimer's Society. The initiative aims to raise public awareness, boost early diagnosis rates, increase funding for research, and ultimately improve the standard of care for those affected. The campaign highlights what charities describe as a 'cruel injustice', where patients often face exorbitant care costs with no NHS-approved drugs available to slow, cure, or prevent the disease's progression.
A Staggering Postcode Divide in Care
The geographical disparity in diagnosis rates is profound. An analysis reveals that in the City of London, the NHS detects only 37.2% of estimated dementia cases, the worst rate in England. In stark contrast, health workers in Stoke-on-Trent achieve a diagnosis rate of 95.3%, the highest in the nation.
Overall, the NHS is failing to meet the government's diagnosis ambition in 159 out of 296 local authorities in England. If every area performed as well as Stoke-on-Trent, an additional 215,432 people in England would have received a diagnosis. Even if all areas simply met the 66.7% target, an extra 24,639 cases would have been identified.
Tim Baverstock from the Alzheimer's Society stated: 'A third of people in England and Northern Ireland and nearly half in Wales living with dementia still don't have a diagnosis. This means thousands are facing the devastating realities of dementia without access to the vital care, support and treatment a diagnosis can bring.' He emphasised that while the national rate is on the precipice of the target, access to a diagnosis varies greatly from one postcode to another.
Systemic Failures and the Fight for Change
Beyond the diagnosis lottery, the system is failing in ongoing care. Although dementia patients are supposed to have their care plan and medication reviewed annually, only 58% received these essential checks in 2024/25. Furthermore, in October of this year, 35,227 dementia patients were prescribed anti-psychotic medication despite having no diagnosis of psychosis. Experts warn these drugs are often used as a 'chemical cosh' and could be avoided with better, earlier support.
The disease also suffers from a critical lack of research investment, receiving less funding than other major illnesses like cancer, despite costing the UK economy a staggering £42 billion each year. Charities fear progress may stall after dementia was removed from official NHS planning guidance this year, a move seen as signalling to managers and clinicians to deprioritise the condition.
Health Minister Stephen Kinnock, whose mother Glenys battled Alzheimer's, commented: 'Getting a timely diagnosis can be life-changing. This government is making progress, with diagnosis rates rising, but there's much more to do.' He pointed to the forthcoming Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia as a key tool to set national standards and improve care quality.
Hilary Evans-Newton, chief executive of Alzheimer's Research UK, which analysed the data, said: 'These figures are heartbreaking. Dementia is still the biggest killer in the UK, tearing families apart and placing an enormous strain on our society, our economy and our NHS.' The latest data confirms 76,894 people died from dementia in the UK in 2024, accounting for 11.8% of all deaths, with numbers continuing to rise year on year.
