Northern Ireland's dementia patients are being failed by delayed diagnoses, charity warns
Dementia patients are being failed throughout the health service in Northern Ireland, with diagnosis target rates falling dramatically since before the Covid pandemic, according to the Alzheimer’s Society.
The comments at the start of dementia awareness week, and as Mike Nesbitt announced a new training programme for health service staff dealing with patients with the condition.
The health minister was the keynote speaker at an event held in Parliament Buildings on Monday by the leading dementia charity.
The Alzheimer’s Society is calling for “ambitious” new diagnosis rate targets, saying that rates have fallen from 74% before the pandemic to an estimated 58.4% today.
Ruth Barry, Alzheimer’s Society’s National Influencing Manager, said: “We see failure throughout the dementia care system in Northern Ireland. The scale of this failure wouldn’t be accepted for other major conditions like cancer or heart disease. Our ageing population and predicted rise in dementia cases mean that action can’t wait. That’s why we’re calling for a Northern Ireland dementia strategy and have published our Roadmap for Change. We urgently need to put plans in place to give people they care they need and deserve.”
After Julie Kerr, from Antrim received her dementia diagnosis in 2022, she was advised to find out more about the condition on the internet. Her husband David said; “You can’t give people a dementia diagnosis and tell them – that's it, away you go.”
He questioned why a similar approach isn’t taken to conditions such as heart disease, where he was assigned to a dedicated heart nurse for follow up.
Julie and David eventually joined a local dementia support group, and are now taking part in an Alzheimer’s Society programme called ‘Time for Dementia’ which aims to educate a new generation of healthcare professionals.
Speaking at the event, Minister Nesbitt he is committed to providing high-quality training for all staff, including for those working directly with people living with dementia across a range of care settings.
“Northern Ireland is estimated to have at least 25,000 people currently living with dementia, and that number is projected to rise to 43,000 people by 2040. Northern Ireland is also projected to have the highest prevalence dementia rate compared to its UK counterparts.
“Ensuring that staff are equipped with the correct training to care appropriately for those with dementia is therefore of paramount importance”, the health minister told those gathered in Stormont’s Long Gallery.