Alzheimer's Society hands in petition for 18-week dementia diagnosis target
The Alzheimer's Society has handed a petition to the Prime Minister calling for an 18-week target for dementia diagnosis, after a survey found nearly half of patients wait over six months.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The Alzheimer's Society has handed a petition to the Prime Minister calling for an 18-week target for dementia diagnosis, after a survey revealed that many patients face long delays. The charity says dementia should be treated with the same urgency as other major conditions such as cancer.
The survey of more than 1,000 families and carers found that nearly half of people with dementia waited more than six months for an accurate diagnosis after first seeing a GP. A similar number said the delay affected their work, and a third said it made it harder to plan for the future.
One family described how Jim, a father, waited 18 months for a diagnosis, during which his condition deteriorated. His son Michael eventually gave up his job to care for him. Another patient, Ruth, said she was told her memory problems were just due to age.
The charity is calling for a national standard so that anyone referred by their GP receives an accurate diagnosis within 18 weeks, along with a care plan and appropriate treatment. It argues that this would bring certainty and hold the system to account.
The government said it is strengthening support for people with dementia and their carers, and a new dementia czar will lead that work.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC One |
|---|---|---|
| A survey of over 1,000 families and carers found that nearly half of dementia patients waited more than six months for an accurate diagnosis after first visiting a GP. | ||
| The Alzheimer's Society called for an 18-week target for dementia diagnosis after a GP referral. | ||
| The government said it is strengthening support for dementia patients and carers, with a new dementia czar leading the work. | ||
| The survey found that carers were affected by the delay, with 46% saying it affected their work and around a third saying it made it harder to plan for the future. | ||
| All profits from the performances will go to the Alzheimer's Society. | · | |
| The production will use teleprompter screens and a small earpiece to support Marinker's performance. | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC ONE West combined the diagnosis target story with a human interest piece about actor Peter Marinker, who is returning to the stage two years after an Alzheimer's diagnosis. The channel highlighted the emotional impact of delayed diagnosis through the story of Michael and his father Jim, and gave prominence to the charity's call for an 18-week target. It also included the government's response about a dementia czar.
- “If you compare with how you'd be treated if you got a diagnosis of cancer, awful, although that is, you are then in a proper treatment pathway with a specialist medical professional looking after you with dementia, you're just sent home.”
- “I think my dad felt beside himself because he was experiencing symptoms of... It wasn't just memory loss.”
- “This is about creative work being possible for people that have had an Alzheimer's diagnosis.”
5 News focused on the petition hand-in at Downing Street and the personal story of Ruth, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's five years ago after struggling to be taken seriously. The channel presented the survey statistics clearly and highlighted the charity's demand for an 18-week target, as well as the government's plan to appoint a dementia czar.
- “I can remember them saying oh, it's just because of your age”
- “by introducing an 18-week target from Referral through to diagnosis treatment and a care plan that will bring people certainty”
- “Knowing you have dementia can open doors to help and support”
Broadcast Timeline
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