New measures announced to improve dementia diagnosis rates

New efforts are to be made to tackle what the government has described as "shockingly low" rates of dementia diagnosis with the NHS.

The Department of Health plans will aim to ensure that two-thirds of people with dementia identified and given appropriate support by 2015, which would equate to around 160,000 patients.

By 2015, annual funding of dementia research will increase to around 66 million pounds and projects will be launched to raise awareness of the condition, while plans are also in place to enhance the quality of care available to sufferers.

Currently, there are an estimated 670,000 people with dementia in England, but 350,000 of those people remain undiagnosed – a problem that is likely to increase as the population ages.

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "Dementia is a serious and growing problem so this ambitious drive to see a clear majority of people identified and supported is a major step forward."

It was also announced this week that the UK is set to use its presidency of the G8 group of nations to push for the adoption of an international approach on dementia research.