Waiting times for a dementia diagnosis rise as 'deeply concerning' delays become 'routine'

Waiting times for a dementia diagnosis are rising as ‘deeply concerning’ delays become ‘routine’, a damning report reveals.

Dementia patients had to wait an average of 137 days - 20 weeks - from referral to diagnosis last year, according to the latest audit of memory assessment services.

This is five days longer than when the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ audit was last published just two years ago.

The latest publication exposes an unfair postcode lottery in waiting times and care.

Almost half of dementia clinics (48 per cent) have an average wait of 18 weeks or less, while one in eight (13 per cent) force patients to wait more than a year.

Without a prompt diagnosis, patients can rapidly deteriorate and be denied access to the right support, while missing out on treatments that work best in the early stages of disease.

Meanwhile, not knowing what is wrong can fuel stress and anxiety in patients and their loved ones.

The National Audit of Dementia (NAD) Survey of Memory Assessment Services in England, Wales and Jersey found more than three in four services (77 per cent) can provide cognitive stimulation therapy either in-house or by referral to an external provider.

However, 23 per cent do not provide CST, which involves using everyday sounds, smells, tastes, and objects to engage the senses and evoke positive memories or feelings, despite this being recommended by the care watchdog NICE.

Furthermore, 40 per cent of services said they did not routinely take blood for testing and a further 15 per cent only tested blood for some patients.

This is important when considering whether the NHS is ready for the potential rollout of blood biomarker tests that could be used to help diagnose the disease.

Writing the foreword to the report, researchers warn of ‘significant unwarranted variation’ across the country, with ‘continued pressure on clinical services’ fuelling increases in waiting times.

They add: ‘We hope that this report will facilitate constructive conversations about models of care that meet the needs of people with dementia and those who care for them in the most efficient way.’

The Daily Mail and Alzheimer’s Society have partnered in a drive to beat dementia, which claims 76,000 lives each year and is the UK’s biggest killer.

The Defeating Dementia campaign aims to raise awareness of the disease, in an effort to increase early diagnosis, boost research and improve care.

Michelle Dyson, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Society, said: ‘Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer, so it’s deeply concerning that this vital new survey data from the National Audit of Dementia finds waiting times for dementia diagnosis are continuing to rise.

’Thirteen per cent of memory assessment services surveyed reported a waiting time of over a year for diagnosis, which is a clear sign that the system is failing.

‘Demand for diagnosis is growing and many services don’t have the staff they need to keep up with the tide.

‘Delays of this scale have quietly become routine for dementia, but wouldn’t be accepted for conditions like cancer or heart disease.

‘Alzheimer’s Society’s new Unlocking the Door reports clearly show the human impact of these delays, with opportunities for diagnosis, treatment and support repeatedly missed.

‘On top of this, NAD findings paint a picture of a postcode lottery when it comes to what people can expect after a diagnosis.

‘Nearly a quarter of services don't offer cognitive stimulation therapy, despite this being an evidence-based and NICE-recommended intervention.

‘This is why our reports have called for clear national and local targets on diagnosis and treatment, strengthened clinical guidance and more standardised pathways, investment in workforce and better data.

‘Action on diagnosis and treatment can’t wait – dementia must be made a priority, now.’

The latest available data shows the number of patients with a recorded diagnosis of dementia in England increased from 498,729 in March 2025 to 513,135 in March 2026, representing an increase of 14,406 patients (2.9 per cent).

Dr Jeremy Isaacs, national clinical director for dementia and older people's mental health at NHS England, said: ‘Thanks to patients and families coming forward and the hard work of NHS staff, the number of people with a diagnosis of dementia in England is at a record high.

‘We’re diagnosing thousands more patients, with more than 14,000 more people diagnosed with dementia and over 11,000 more medication reviews compared to last year, according to latest available data.

‘However, we know waiting times can still be too long for many people and we are seeking to address this through our upcoming national plan for improving care for people with dementia, as well as the NHS “fit for future dementia challenge” which aims to find clinical and technological innovations that reduce the time from GP referral to diagnosis.’

The NHS urges anyone concerned about someone they know developing dementia to encourage them to see their GP for an initial assessment.