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Dementia diagnosis rates in Walsall and Stafford among 'worst in England'

Two areas of the West Midlands were today shamed as being among the worst 10 parts of the country for the diagnosis of dementia. In Stafford diagnosis is as low as 36.4 per cent while in Walsall the figure is just 37.2 per cent.

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But in some parts of the country, diagniosis rates are above 70 per cent. The figures were released as it was revealed that fewer than half of people suffering from dementia are being formally diagnosed because doctors fear stigmatising their patients, according to the Health Secretary.

Jeremy Hunt's 'dementia map' of England showed that in some areas, fewer than four in every 10 dementia sufferers have their condition recognised by the NHS.

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The disclosure comes as the Government begins a campaign to boost diagnosis rates, which will include Britain leading a Group of Eight conference on the issue next month.

The Department of Health estimates that 670,000 people in England are suffering from dementia. However, only 319,000 have been diagnosed, NHS figures show.

Overall, 48 per cent of the estimated dementia cases are being formally recognised by the NHS. In some areas, the diagnosis rate is as high as 75 per cent.

But in the worst performing areas, it falls to 39 per cent.

Mr Hunt said he was disclosing the diagnosis rates in an effort to drive up standards and end what campaigners have called a postcode lottery in the treatment of dementia sufferers.

The World Health Organisation estimates that the number of people worldwide living with dementia could more than treble to 115.4 million by 2050 due to the ageing population.

The figure is expected to pass the million mark in the UK alone by the end of 2020.

Mr Hunt said: "Dementia is one of the biggest challenges we face as a nation.

"This report and map will help drive up standards of dementia care across the country by showing what excellent care looks like, and challenging the rest to become like the best.

"Full transparency is the best way to drive up standards and tackle poor performance.

The report points to an almost doubling in Government-funded research, a four-fold increase in the number assessed by memory clinics, and training for 108,000 NHS staff in spotting early symptoms.

But shadow minister for care and older people Liz Kendall said: "If David Cameron was serious about improving the quality of dementia care, he would not have cut council budgets for older people's social care to the bone."

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