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Prime Minister Andy Burnham is under pressure to establish an 18-week referral-to-treatment waiting-time target for dementia care in England, similar to existing cancer targets. Social Care Minister Alison McGovern and Alzheimer's Society advocate for this measure, arguing that current dementia care lags behind other conditions like cancer. Professor Sir Mike Richards and Baroness Louise Casey support the proposal, emphasizing the need for improved coordination between health and social services to better assist those affected by dementia.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-18,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces calls from experts to set an 18-week referral-to-treatment target for dementia care in England. Professor Sir Mike Richards, former national cancer director, and Baroness Louise Casey support this initiative proposed by the Alzheimer's Society. The society advocates for a "cancer-style revolution" to modernize dementia care, which they describe as outdated. Social Care Minister Alison McGovern endorsed the report at an Alzheimer’s Society conference on Thursday, emphasizing that dementia has been neglected for too long and highlighting the difficulties faced by those navigating fragmented health and social care systems. The government aims to address these issues but needs additional funding to implement such targets effectively.
Written for “Dementia Care Target UK” on 2026-10-04,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
- Published
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is facing calls to set a national waiting-time target for dementia care in England.
asserted
Burnham → publish → England
An Alzheimer's Society proposal to set an 18‑week referral‑to‑treatment target has been backed by Professor Sir Mike Richards, England's former national cancer director, and Baroness Louise Casey, who's leading a major review of adult social care.
asserted
who → set → care
In a report, Alzheimer's Society and the King's Trust said a "cancer-style revolution" was needed to improve dementia care, which they described as being "stuck in the 20th century".
asserted
they → say → century
In a speech at Alzheimer's Society conference on Thursday, Social Care Minister Alison McGovern expressed support for the report, external.
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McGovern → express → report
She said: "The report that the Alzheimer's Society published today on going on the journey that we've been on with cancer, with Alzheimer's and dementia, I think that's spot on."
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that → say → Alzheimer
The minister said dementia had been "neglected for far too long".
asserted
dementia → say → long
She added: "And nowhere is this division between health and social care felt more sharply than by people living with dementia in their families, too often left to navigate a shattered system at the most difficult time in their lives."
The government has committed to appointing a top official to oversee dementia care and publish a new plan - a modern service framework - to speed up support for those with the disease by the end of the year.
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government → add → year
McGovern said the government would "appoint a dementia tsar, backed with real expertise".
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government → say → expertise
In contrast, the NHS sets waiting-time targets for cancer diagnosis and treatment.
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NHS → set → diagnosis
Professor Richards was the national cancer director when these cancer targets were introduced in 2000, and said he thought an 18‑week referral‑to‑treatment target for dementia patients was achievable.
He said setting such a target would require "political initiative" and extra funding.
"All of that is going to cost more money but remember the toll that this condition is taking at the moment, both on the people affected by dementia themselves and their relatives," the professor said.
asserted
professor → introduce → dementia
The same proposal has been made by Baroness Casey.
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proposal → make → Casey
In a letter to former Health Secretary Wes Streeting in March, she said the government should look at "how dementia can be put on a level playing field with other conditions, for example by setting national standards for dementia diagnosis, including an 18‑week referral‑to‑treatment target".
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dementia → say → target
Speaking to the BBC, Baroness Casey said she agreed with the proposal to emulate cancer care.
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she → speak → care
She said: "I think the National Health Service and more generally all of us have stuck our heads in the sand about it, and it's time we started saying, yes, we should have a similar mission, and we should do as much as we possibly can on dementia, and now."
uncertain
we → say → dementia
Baroness Casey is expected to publish her recommendations on social care reform next summer.
asserted
Casey → expect → reform
About one million people are living with dementia in the UK, a figure expected to reach 1.4 million by 2040.
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people → live → 2040
Burnham cancelled his engagements earlier this week after the death of father, Roy, who had Alzheimer's disease.
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who → cancel → disease
Returning from compassionate leave, he said his father would have wanted him "back out there" to bring forward "the changes that he always pushed me to make".
asserted
he → return → me
In July, Burnham spoke about his father's condition and said it had influenced his drive to reform adult social care in England.
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it → speak → England
Burnham has said he will wait for Baroness Casey's recommendations before deciding what changes to make to social care and how it's funded.
asserted
it → say → care
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