SIMONFell MP has called for action to increase the number of people with dementia who receive an accurate and timely diagnosis across England.

Attending a parliamentary event in the House of Commons, the Barrow MP highlighted the importance of prompt diagnosis to enable people with dementia and their carers to receive the support they need.

Organised for the Front of Mind campaign, a joint initiative between Roche UK and tide (together in dementia everyday), the event saw MPs discuss findings of a new report, ‘Levelling up dementia diagnosis’, which found that 43 per cent of people with dementia remain undiagnosed.

Front of Mind is a joint campaign by Roche and tide, calling for people with dementia and their carers to receive the recognition – and support – they deserve.

Roche is a pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, focused on advancing science to improve people’s lives, committed to rising to the global challenge of Alzheimer’s disease through innovation and collaboration.

The report by Future Health, which was commissioned and funded by Roche in partnership with York Health Economics Consortium, also found that diagnosis rates vary markedly across the country from 83 per cent to 47 per cent, while people in rural areas and those from ethnic minorities face particular barriers to accessing services they need.

Mr Fell said: “Without a confirmed, accurate diagnosis of dementia, people will struggle to access medical and social interventions that could ease their symptoms and support their unpaid carers. The Government’s proposed dementia strategy offers an opportunity to set out the steps that can be taken to tackle the unfair variations that exist across the country in the diagnosis pathway ”

During the event, Mr Fell explored the impact of dementia in his constituency through an interactive data mapping dashboard.

Sam Bolam, chief executive of tide, added: “It’s really encouraging to see MPs come together to discuss the impact of underdiagnosis on people with dementia. Too often, receiving dementia support is a postcode lottery, and we want to ensure everybody affected by dementia can access vital services – regardless of where they live.”