When will the Welsh Government publish dementia diagnosis data for North Wales, and what steps are being taken to reduce barriers to a dementia diagnosis in Wales?
In February 2018, we published the Dementia Action Plan that outlines our vision for dementia care and support in Wales. The priority areas include action on improving diagnosis rates and enabling the availability of diagnosis data. This Action Plan is currently subject to an independent evaluation ahead of the development of successor arrangements.
We have published a Welsh Health Circular setting out guidance for health boards to assist with the recording of a diagnosis of dementia. Providing accurate information to the person living with dementia and their carers, other services and for the reporting of national dementia diagnostic rates is essential. Work is ongoing between Improvement Cymru and Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW) to support the standardised collection of primary care dementia register data, with the aim of producing diagnostic rates data.
Diagnosis data will initially be made publicly available quarterly at a regional and national level, with a view to moving towards monthly reporting in the longer term.
I will be making a written statement in May which will outline progress made against the current Dementia Action Plan. This will include work to support improving diagnostic rates.