Thank you for writing to me concerning dementia.
Dementia is Britain’s biggest killer, with more people dying of the condition in Wales and England than any other cause. It affects more than 55 million people worldwide and the global health cost is expected to exceed £2.1 trillion by 2030.
At least 42,000 people in Wales are currently living with dementia, with more than 20,000 undiagnosed, and the cost of dementia care in Wales has now reached £2 billion a year, with the number set to rise to as high as £4.5 million by 2040, according to the Alzheimer’s Society, unless urgent action is taken. I am also aware that there is a high demand for places in care homes, yet there are difficulties in recruiting and retaining sufficient staff to care for this demand.
The Welsh Government’s Dementia Action Plan ended in 2022, and whilst I appreciate that the Welsh Government has set out plans to regularly evaluate the Dementia Action Plan, it is important that there is a new up to date plan set out the Welsh Government’s strategic vision for dementia services.
My Welsh Conservative colleagues and I are committed to developing a new dementia delivery plan in Wales in collaboration with stakeholders that will improve dementia patients’ care and treatment whilst supporting their loved ones and promoting research into the disease.
I thank you again for taking the time to contact me.