Written question WQ94535

Improving diagnosis rates and enabling the availability of diagnosis data is a priority for the Welsh Government. We have published a Welsh Health Circular setting out guidance for health boards to assist with the recording of a diagnosis of dementia and the NHS Executive and Digital Health and Care Wales are working with regions to support the standardised collection of primary care dementia register data to produce more regular diagnostic rates data.

We are committed to the future publication of memory assessment services data. This will initially focus on activity of receipt of referral to assessment (with a target of 28 days) and receipt of referral to diagnosis (target of 84 days). Whilst the data is not yet published, progress against these targets is already being monitored through monthly performance meetings with the NHS Executive.

Work is also ongoing to develop a national community health clinical pathway to support all GPs in Wales with early detection, assessment and referrals.

We have commissioned an independent evaluation of the Dementia Action Plan which is continuing to assess its impact on dementia care and support in Wales. The final version is due by the end of the calendar year. This will inform our work on preparing for the successor plan. We will provide more detail about the timing of the successor action plan in the new year.