Unlocking diagnosis: the key to improving the lives of people with dementia

A diagnosis of dementia gives a person access to treatment and support services and allows them to plan for their future. Yet it is still common for a person with dementia to live with the condition and never be given a formal diagnosis. The aim of this inquiry was investigate why this is the case, particularly exploring barriers to diagnosis and differences in the rates of diagnosis across the UK. The call for evidence ran between December 2011 and March 2012 and received more than 1,100 pieces of evidence from people with dementia, carers, family members, health professionals, and other organisations and individuals. The inquiry found there were barriers throughout the process of diagnosis, from people having poor understanding of dementia so not visiting a doctor, through issues faced by GPs and memory specialists, to problems with the quality of support offered immediately following diagnosis. In particular, the inquiry heard a large volume of evidence on problems in the following areas: public education; primary care; Variability of memory services; Post-diagnosis support.