Data shows that people who suspect they have dementia wait an average of five months to receive a diagnosis from the NHS.
A national audit by the Royal College of Psychiatrists reveals that the average waiting time for referral reached 22 weeks last year, with some patients waiting almost 12 months.
In 2019, the average waiting time was around 13 weeks. Experts said the figures mean thousands of people are left without care, support or treatment.
The data also showed that waiting times in deprived areas can be “significantly longer” and only 2.1 per cent of people with suspected dementia undergo specialist investigations.
Dr Mohan Bhat, chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Faculty for Older People, said: ‘It is worrying that waiting times for dementia diagnoses are increasing, with many people facing a postcode lottery when trying to access support.
Patients with suspected dementia wait an average of five months to be diagnosed, with some waiting almost a year, new data shows (file photo)
Data shows only 2.1 percent of people with suspected dementia undergo specialist investigations (file photo)
‘People who receive timely support are better equipped to manage the progression of their disease, although doing so alone can be incredibly difficult and lead to significant memory loss.’
He added that the government must also ensure that infrastructure is in place to help provide early diagnoses, saying: “This would help prepare services for the introduction of new disease-modifying treatments that could soon be approved for use.
‘These proposed treatments warn that they require early diagnosis to be effective.’
So far, trials have shown that the drugs lecanemab and donanemab delay the early stages of Alzheimer’s, but they have not yet been approved in the UK.
Jennifer Keen, director of policy at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “An early and accurate diagnosis of dementia is the vital key to unlocking care, support and, where appropriate, symptomatic treatment, and long waits for diagnosis leave people without this help.”
An NHS England spokesperson said: ‘This audit shows encouraging improvements in the proportion of patients receiving an assessment.
“More needs to be done to ensure best practice, so each integrated care board has been asked to review and improve waiting times for dementia diagnosis.”