18,000 missing Alzheimer's sufferers in the North East

11.30.00am GMT Fri 19th Dec 2008

Pressure is mounting on the UK Government to develop a national strategy to tackle Alzheimer's disease following recognition by European Health Ministers that the disease is a top priority for action.

Northumberland Lib Dem MEP, Fiona Hall, has welcomed the move, as new research predicts the number of people suffering from dementia in UK is set to soar to 1 million by 2025, as the country's population continues to age.

Around 700,000 people in Britain currently have some form of dementia, costing the country £17 billion a year. But Fiona is concerned that despite an enormous amount of money being spent on dementia treatment, because of poor diagnosis and a lack of early detection the real figure in the North East could be as high as 30,000 - 18,000 more than National Health Service estimates.

Northumberland Care Trust has an estimated 1,432 dementia sufferers, but research from the Alzheimer's Society puts this nearer to 4,177.

These figures have prompted Fiona to sign a written declaration in the European Parliament calling for national governments to do more to make sure early diagnosis, proper treatment and the right sort of care is provided to sufferers - as well as more research into the causes of Alzheimer's disease and other dementia-related illness.

Fiona Hall said:

"Despite the NHS budget doubling to almost £100 billion a year and a National Dementia Strategy for England, Alzheimer's disease is still the ticking timebomb of our generation.

"30% of primary care trusts in England have closed or downgraded dementia services in the past three years which seems ridiculous when the number of people to suffer from the disease is set to soar.

"We need to respond to these figures as quickly as we can to improve early diagnosis, invest in research and ensure that the quality of life for patients and carers post diagnosis is as comfortable as possible."

Dr Kieran Sanders, who works in a North East hospital said: "Having had first hand experience of the devastating effects Alzheimer's has on both patients and their families, I welcome the European Parliament's recognition that more must be done to fight this debilitating disease."

Alzheimer's Society NE Area Manager Caroline Burden said:

"Alzheimer's Society welcomes the recommendations made in the draft National Dementia Strategy for England which have the potential to make a huge difference to the lives of people with dementia and their carers in the North East.

"However the government needs to fully fund the Strategy in order to make the changes that are required to provide the highest quality care for dementia suffers and educate the public about this devastating illness.

"The NHS needs to start planning now to ensure they can support these individuals in future."

More information on the Alzheimer's Society can be found at http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/