Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s pledge to make dementia research a top national priority has been described as ‘long overdue and much needed’ by Birmingham medics.
Senior officials from Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (BSMHFT) said Mr Burnham’s announcement of £48 million towards the search for a dementia cure was welcome boost.
They were speaking at the official launch of Memory Matters, a pilot being held in north Birmingham, which is helping cut waiting times for dementia assessment and treatment for people aged 80 and over.
The Prime Minister has his own lived experience as his father Roy died last month after suffering from Alzheimer’s.
Lou Pickering, Community Service Manager for BSMHFT’s dementia and frailty services and Memory Matters lead, said: “I’ve worked in dementia care for 25 years and what we’ve noticed in the last 10 years is when we had an absence of a dementia strategy at Department of Health level, we were competing and put in the frailty umbrella.
“So we were competing against cancer and cardiovascular so we were missing out on funding opportunities.
“Andy Burnham’s message is going to help the public understand this is a priority and needs the investment it requires. Not just for the person but for their carers and loved ones around them.
“I think it’s long overdue, much needed and hopefully will make an impact and that person living well with dementia.
“Dementia doesn’t just affect that person with their memory, they often have long term conditions they’ve struggled to manage because of their dementia.
“They are more likely to go into hospital and when they are admitted, they are more likely to have a longer stay.
“This is quite a promising commitment but we really need to think about how and where we invest that money.”
Professor Farooq Khan, consultant psychiatrist and also clinical lead for dementia in the Midlands for NHS England said: “It’s great news for us and we welcome it hugely. It’s been long coming and we’ve been waiting.
“There has been big money for the transformation of community mental health teams a few years back but that money did not reach dementia.
“Specifically focusing on dementia was the biggest need I think and I wholeheartedly welcome this.
“It gives hope for the future we will be able to see more complex people in shorter time than we do now.”
By Gurdip Thandi | Local Democracy Reporting Service
50,000 residents affected by bin change blunder
Dementia pilot helps cut waiting times
Complaints against councillors up as new pledge considered
Court date set for company after 4,000 litre cyanide canal spill
Flat plan rejected for ‘looking like a prison’
