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| Dementia 'must get top priority' | Dementia 'must get top priority' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The government's main advisor on its dementia strategy for England has said the condition must not be regarded "as an inevitable part of growing old". | The government's main advisor on its dementia strategy for England has said the condition must not be regarded "as an inevitable part of growing old". |
| Professor Sube Banerjee said dementia was a "horrible brain disease" which should receive a top priority. | Professor Sube Banerjee said dementia was a "horrible brain disease" which should receive a top priority. |
| He confirmed part of the strategy, expected soon, would focus on trying to reduce admissions to care homes. | He confirmed part of the strategy, expected soon, would focus on trying to reduce admissions to care homes. |
| Care services minister, Phil Hope, said he shared campaigners' frustration about delays to the strategy. | Care services minister, Phil Hope, said he shared campaigners' frustration about delays to the strategy. |
| The current system allows anybody to make a diagnosis of dementia - so in fact nobody ends up doing it Professor Sube Banerjee The plan was originally due to be published last October. | The current system allows anybody to make a diagnosis of dementia - so in fact nobody ends up doing it Professor Sube Banerjee The plan was originally due to be published last October. |
| Professor Banerjee, who runs services in Croydon, said although dementia services around the country varied, in general the level of provision was "vanishingly small". | Professor Banerjee, who runs services in Croydon, said although dementia services around the country varied, in general the level of provision was "vanishingly small". |
| The amount of prescribing of drugs to treat dementia was in the same region as that in Poland and the Slovak Republic. | The amount of prescribing of drugs to treat dementia was in the same region as that in Poland and the Slovak Republic. |
| Different approach | Different approach |
| He told a seminar in central London: "I want to explain why the shiny piece of paper we'll generate soon will be different to the other shiny pieces of paper that have gone before it. | He told a seminar in central London: "I want to explain why the shiny piece of paper we'll generate soon will be different to the other shiny pieces of paper that have gone before it. |
| "The NICE guidelines on dementia contain a very long list of stuff that we don't do. | "The NICE guidelines on dementia contain a very long list of stuff that we don't do. |
| "Why is that? The evidence base has become firmer in the last five years - but the messages haven't been understandable to people who are commissioning the services, or to the professionals. | "Why is that? The evidence base has become firmer in the last five years - but the messages haven't been understandable to people who are commissioning the services, or to the professionals. |
| "The current system allows anybody to make a diagnosis of dementia - so in fact nobody ends up doing it." | "The current system allows anybody to make a diagnosis of dementia - so in fact nobody ends up doing it." |
| Professor Banerjee's research has revealed that the amount of people with dementia in the UK will double in the next 30 years. | Professor Banerjee's research has revealed that the amount of people with dementia in the UK will double in the next 30 years. |
| He said: "The amount spent on people with dementia in care homes is £7bn a year. | He said: "The amount spent on people with dementia in care homes is £7bn a year. |
| "There are excellent homes - but people generally don't want to go into a home. | "There are excellent homes - but people generally don't want to go into a home. |
| "If we accept a possible decrease in admissions and are able to instead spend more time in improving the quality of life for people with dementia, the plan will be cost-effective." | "If we accept a possible decrease in admissions and are able to instead spend more time in improving the quality of life for people with dementia, the plan will be cost-effective." |
| But Bupa's head of mental health, Dr Graham Stokes, warned that care homes should not necessarily be seen as a last resort. | But Bupa's head of mental health, Dr Graham Stokes, warned that care homes should not necessarily be seen as a last resort. |
| He said: "I can't see how all the aspirations of the dementia strategy are deliverable. | He said: "I can't see how all the aspirations of the dementia strategy are deliverable. |
| "We need a dedicated service for people with dementia." | "We need a dedicated service for people with dementia." |
| In a statement, Mr Hope said: "I share the frustration with the delays in publishing the strategy. But we cannot afford to get this wrong." |