Written question WQ96374

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 (DHCW) are supporting the standardised collection of primary care dementia register data. The aim of this work is to produce more regular diagnostic rates data.

The new dementia plan, informed by the recently-published independent evaluation of the current action plan, will include new targets for dementia diagnosis.

Recent calls for a National Dementia Data Observatory are in line with our current policy intent. However, I believe we can achieve the same outcomes by developing data standards and strengthening our links with academia.

The data we establish on dementia assessment and support will be reported nationally and will be exposed to the same level of scrutiny as other NHS quality and performance data. Health boards are being monitored through monthly performance meetings with the NHS Executive with a focus on memory assessment services activity (receipt of referral to assessment with a target of 28 days and receipt of referral to diagnosis target of 84 days). We intend to publish this data.

Working with our Knowledge and Analytical Services, this operational data will be supported by ongoing monitoring of published research and evidence. We also continue to engage routinely with the Royal Colleges and clinicians. Our future dementia strategy will strengthen this approach.

Further information about how we are supporting improvements on dementia diagnosis is included in our recent update.