There’s a long way to go in diagnosing dementia (From Worcester News)

There’s a long way to go in diagnosing dementia

10:22am Wednesday 22nd February 2012 in James Connell By James Connell

NEARLY 200 more people were diagnosed with dementia in Worcestershire last year but many more are affected who are not diagnosed, says a charity.

There were 2,945 people diagnosed with dementia in Worcestershire in 2011, 190 more than the previous year when there were 2,755 people on the dementia register.

However, Herefordshire has seen the lowest improvement in the West Midlands for diagnosing dementia, according to the figures published yesterday.

The Alzheimer’s Society estimates, based on GP data, suggests that the vast majority of people with dementia are not on the register.

Estimates suggest there were 7,967 people in Worcestershire with dementia in 2011, 246 more than there were the previous year.

The number of people with dementia (diagnosed and undiagnosed) is estimated to rise to 11,108 by 2021.

In Worcestershire the number of people with dementia was estimated to be 2,755 in 2011 but 4,966 people (64 per cent of people with dementia) remain undiagnosed, suggest the charity’s estimates.

The diagnosis rates have increased by 1.3 per cent in Worcestershire in 2010/11 and the society ranks the county 117 in the country for diagnosing dementia (one being the most improved and 177 the least).

Heart of Birmingham PCT saw the biggest improvement in diagnosis rates in the region, with an increase of nearly six per cent, while Herefordshire Primary Care Trust improved the least with an increase of just 0.5 per cent.

David Ash, area manager for the Alzheimer’s Society in the West Midlands, said: “It’s shocking that well over half of people who are living with dementia still don’t have a diagnosis in the West Midlands and so aren’t receiving the support, benefits and the medical treatments that are often available.

“We have seen an increase over the last year, but there is still a long way to go.”