• Publish Your article
  • Editorial Policy
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Friday, October 31, 2025
No Result
View All Result
UK Herald
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Sports
    England rugby stadium Twickenham given new name after more than 100 years in shock new deal

    England rugby stadium Twickenham given new name after more than 100 years in shock new deal

    Peter Morgan dead at 65: Former Wales and Lions rugby star who became a politician passes away as club pays tribute

    Peter Morgan dead at 65: Former Wales and Lions rugby star who became a politician passes away as club pays tribute

    Horse racing tips: Unexposed Group 1 contender can stun the big guns at 14-1

    Horse racing tips: Unexposed Group 1 contender can stun the big guns at 14-1

    Woman ‘raped seven times by two French rugby stars who left her riddled with bite marks & with horror injuries’

    Woman ‘raped seven times by two French rugby stars who left her riddled with bite marks & with horror injuries’

    Horse racing tips: Gary Moore’s charge can gain revenge after falling last time out

    Horse racing tips: Gary Moore’s charge can gain revenge after falling last time out

    Ian Buckett dead at 56: Former Wales rugby star who was ‘admired and feared equally’ dies as tributes pour in

    Ian Buckett dead at 56: Former Wales rugby star who was ‘admired and feared equally’ dies as tributes pour in

    Horse racing tips: Bash the bookies with these longshots including 9-1 fancy

    Horse racing tips: Bash the bookies with these longshots including 9-1 fancy

    Shayne Philpott dead at 58 – New Zealand All Blacks rugby legend dies after suffering ‘medical event’

    Shayne Philpott dead at 58 – New Zealand All Blacks rugby legend dies after suffering ‘medical event’

    Horse racing tips: This 7-1 chance appears to have been laid out for race he won last year

    Horse racing tips: This 7-1 chance appears to have been laid out for race he won last year

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • food
    • Health
    • Travel
    The ‘magnificent’ river trail 30 miles from London with quaint villages and a Michelin-starred pub

    The ‘magnificent’ river trail 30 miles from London with quaint villages and a Michelin-starred pub

    I went to a five-star health spa and realised the secret to long life is free

    I went to a five-star health spa and realised the secret to long life is free

    I visited this lesser-known European gem and spent just £300 in a week

    I visited this lesser-known European gem and spent just £300 in a week

    I stayed in Mauritius’ ‘magic place’ – this is my honest review

    I stayed in Mauritius’ ‘magic place’ – this is my honest review

    The exact dates you need to book off in 2026 to get 56 days of holiday

    The exact dates you need to book off in 2026 to get 56 days of holiday

    Italy’s ‘less glitzy’ gateway destination named one of 2026’s best places to visit

    Italy’s ‘less glitzy’ gateway destination named one of 2026’s best places to visit

    This historic Japanese city is hiking its tourist tax by 900% to stop you coming

    This historic Japanese city is hiking its tourist tax by 900% to stop you coming

    Major airline removes carry-on bag sizers from boarding gates

    Major airline removes carry-on bag sizers from boarding gates

    Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Lounge review: ‘It doesn’t get bigger than this…’

    Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Lounge review: ‘It doesn’t get bigger than this…’

    What is Bleach or Facial, Best for Skin?

    What is Bleach or Facial, Best for Skin?

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Health
  • Opinion
  • Science
  • Tech
  • Crypto
  • Travel
  • Real Estate
  • Sports
  • More
    • Press Release
UK Herald
No Result
View All Result

Douglas McAllister: ‘A dementia diagnosis should be a right, not a waiting game’

by Justin Marsh
September 16, 2025
0
0
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterReddit


When we talk about the great health challenges facing the UK, cancer and heart disease rightly come to mind. But too often we overlook dementia – the leading cause of death in this country for some time. Behind that statistic is a person, a family, and a community living with the uncertainty that this condition brings.

For too many, that uncertainty begins long before a diagnosis. At present, around one in three people living with dementia never receive a formal diagnosis. That means hundreds of thousands of families are left without answers, without support, and without the chance to benefit from treatments and care that can make a real difference.

This matters now more than ever. In recent years, new treatments have emerged that can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease – the most common cause of dementia. They are not yet available on the NHS, but their arrival marks a turning point. And there are now more than 180 trials underway testing nearly 140 experimental treatments for Alzheimer’s across the globe, with over 30 in phase 3 trials. For the first time, there is genuine hope that the course of this disease can be changed. But that hope is only meaningful if people are diagnosed early and accurately.

In West Dunbartonshire, where around 1,278 people are living with dementia, I regularly hear from families desperate for clarity. Many wait months – even over a year – for a specialist appointment, enduring not just the uncertainty but the toll it takes on loved ones left struggling in the dark.

I know this experience all too well. My mother began showing signs of Alzheimer’s at just 62. My brother and I faced the same long waits for diagnosis, and the same delays in accessing the care and advice we desperately needed. She had always cared for us, and suddenly she was the one who needed care.

Today, at 78, my mum receives outstanding support in a local care home. I often share our family’s journey with constituents who are worried about their own loved ones. It’s a reminder that behind every statistic is a person and a family. Yet early and accurate diagnosis is still just as challenging now as it was 15 years ago.

The benefits of a diagnosis are clear. It gives people a name for what they are experiencing, and with that comes access to support and the ability to plan for the future. It allows families to understand what is happening and to adapt together. And in the years ahead, it will open the door to new treatments that could give people their independence for longer, and more time with loved ones. Everyone has the right to an early and accurate diagnosis.

However, we need to take action now. New insights from Alzheimer’s Research UK reveal the scale of the challenge: more than nine in ten NHS dementia professionals surveyed believe a diagnosis benefits families and carers – but less than a third say the current pathways are fit for purpose. Families are often waiting over 12 months for answers, with one in five people surveyed still waiting more than two years after visiting their GP. Health teams – doing their best – are stretched thin, with poor coordination and limited access to modern diagnostic tools. Fewer than half of health professionals feel able to provide the level of care they want to.

We owe it to people living with dementia to do better. That means investment, innovation and leadership. I am pleased that the government has committed to a Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia as part of our ten-year health plan – a vital step in ensuring that the NHS can meet today’s demand and tomorrow’s opportunities.

I am also proud to support Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Dementia Unseen campaign, and their call to make early and accurate dementia diagnosis a right for everyone. Because while this challenge is urgent, it is also something we can solve. With the right tools, the right investment, and the right political will, we can build a system where no one is left waiting in limbo.

Early and accurate diagnosis is the foundation for everything that follows – and we must act urgently to make it a reality for everyone, in every community.

Sign Alzheimer’s Research UK’s petition here.

Politics.co.uk is the UK’s leading digital-only political website. Subscribe to our daily newsletter for all the latest news and analysis.

The post Douglas McAllister: ‘A dementia diagnosis should be a right, not a waiting game’ appeared first on Politics.co.uk.



Source link

Related Posts

The regional investment summit: a welcome vision for growth – now let’s deliver it

The regional investment summit: a welcome vision for growth – now let’s deliver it

by Justin Marsh
October 30, 2025
0

Last week I attended the UK government’s first ever regional investment summit in Birmingham. Led by West Midlands mayor Richard Parker and the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, and attended by front bench ministers,...

Caroline Dinenage: ‘The future of science is animal-free – Britain must not be left behind’

Caroline Dinenage: ‘The future of science is animal-free – Britain must not be left behind’

by Justin Marsh
October 28, 2025
0

Last week, the Home Office published its annual statistics detailing the number of scientific experiments involving animals which took place in 2024. As a longtime advocate of animal welfare, it is disappointing...

Andy Burnham criticises ‘climate of fear’ in Labour with vow to continue ‘debate’

Andy Burnham criticises ‘climate of fear’ in Labour with vow to continue ‘debate’

by Justin Marsh
October 26, 2025
0

Andy Burnham has vowed to continue the debate he has instigated over the direction of the Labour Party under Keir Starmer’s leadership, in a direct response to his internal critics. In his...

Starmer is governed by polls, not principles – voters can sense it

Starmer is governed by polls, not principles – voters can sense it

by Justin Marsh
October 24, 2025
0

Politics once moved at the pace of persuasion. A leader would make a case, tour the country, take questions, debate opponents – and then wait weeks or months to see whether the...

Back electoral reform to embed ‘progressive majority’ and thwart Farage, Starmer urged

Back electoral reform to embed ‘progressive majority’ and thwart Farage, Starmer urged

by Justin Marsh
October 22, 2025
0

Keir Starmer has been urged to throw his support behind some form of proportional representation (PR) in order to embed Britain’s “progressive majority”. Paul Sweeney, member of the Scottish parliament (MSP) for...

Week-in-Review: Starmer and Badenoch repel their pretenders – for now

Week-in-Review: Starmer and Badenoch repel their pretenders – for now

by Justin Marsh
October 20, 2025
0

It took the power of Andy Burnham’s example to tame Robert Jenrick. Expectations heading into the Conservative Party’s annual conference suggested the shadow justice secretary would continue to strut his stuff in...

Next Post
PRH London Review online Reputation Backed by Trust Users ⭐🌍

PRH London Review online Reputation Backed by Trust Users ⭐🌍

Popular News

The regional investment summit: a welcome vision for growth – now let’s deliver it

The regional investment summit: a welcome vision for growth – now let’s deliver it

October 30, 2025
John Edwards dies aged 91: ‘One of the great writer reporters’

John Edwards dies aged 91: ‘One of the great writer reporters’

October 29, 2025
Caroline Dinenage: ‘The future of science is animal-free – Britain must not be left behind’

Caroline Dinenage: ‘The future of science is animal-free – Britain must not be left behind’

October 28, 2025
The ‘magnificent’ river trail 30 miles from London with quaint villages and a Michelin-starred pub

The ‘magnificent’ river trail 30 miles from London with quaint villages and a Michelin-starred pub

October 28, 2025
Andy Burnham criticises ‘climate of fear’ in Labour with vow to continue ‘debate’

Andy Burnham criticises ‘climate of fear’ in Labour with vow to continue ‘debate’

October 26, 2025
I went to a five-star health spa and realised the secret to long life is free

I went to a five-star health spa and realised the secret to long life is free

October 25, 2025
Starmer is governed by polls, not principles – voters can sense it

Starmer is governed by polls, not principles – voters can sense it

October 24, 2025
UK Herald

All Rights Reserved © UK HERALD - The Voice of UK

Important Links

  • Publish Your article
  • Editorial Policy
  • Contact
  • Advertise

...

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Politics
  • UK News
  • Business
  • Science
  • National
  • Entertainment
  • Gaming
  • Sports
  • Fashion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Health
  • Food

All Rights Reserved © UK HERALD - The Voice of UK