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Dementia patients and carers in Scotland facing a postcode lottery when it comes to access to support
Alzheimer Scotland says people with dementia and their carers face unequal access to support across Scotland, depending on where they live. The charity argues that inconsistent services can leave people without help after diagnosis, increasing pressure on families and potentially leading to greater care needs.
Scotland’s Local Delivery Plan standard says everyone diagnosed with dementia should receive a year of support. In 2023/24, the Western Isles and Orkney met that target, while NHS Dumfries and Galloway provided the due support to 47.6 per cent of referrals. A charity survey found 75 per cent thought care was unequal, 58 per cent struggled to find information about local services, and some people waited up to 14 months for post-diagnosis help. Alzheimer Scotland is calling for a national care standard; the Scottish Government says improving post-diagnosis support is a key goal of its 10-year dementia strategy.
In short
- Alzheimer Scotland warns dementia support varies sharply by area.
- Just 47.6% of referrals in Dumfries and Galloway received due support.
- The charity wants a national standard covering care at every stage.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A national care standard could make support more consistent and ensure people receive help after diagnosis regardless of where they live. The reported gaps and long waits suggest the current approach is not meeting its stated year-of-support goal everywhere, leaving families to navigate services and absorb extra pressure.
The case against
A national standard could set a clear expectation, but delivering it uniformly may be difficult when local services face different needs and capacity constraints. The Government’s existing 10-year strategy already makes post-diagnosis support a key goal, so improving implementation and local provision may be more practical than adding another national requirement.