The NHS 10 Year Health Plan: A New Era for Dementia Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention
The Government’s new 10 Year Health Plan aims to transform the NHS in England by 2035, with a strong focus on prevention, digital innovation and community-based care. Crucially, dementia is recognised as a major health challenge throughout the plan, which is encouraging news for everyone affected.
Enable & Thrive provides expert, person-centred advocacy for individuals living with dementia, helping them navigate complex systems such as care planning or moving into a care home. Our team ensures that those living with dementia are protected from financial abuse and are supported with benefit applications, access to funding, and safe management of finances under Power of Attorney or deputyship.
How will this impact those living with dementia?
The Government has outlined several changes that will have a positive impact on those living with dementia and their families:
Improved GP Access: More trained doctors and additional funding will be directed towards GP services, especially in deprived areas. This is vital for improving access to dementia diagnosis - which remains the first, essential step in unlocking the right support and care.
Digital NHS App: Will allow carers and family members to manage care and appointments more easily through a single platform. This should improve communication between all parties involved in a person’s health and wellbeing, streamlining the process and reducing confusion.
Neighbourhood Health Services: Local health care professionals will work together in local community teams to provide support closer to home. This is especially valuable for people with dementia who may struggle to access hospital-based services safely or comfortably.
Modern Service Framework for Dementia: Aims to set national standards of what dementia care looks like across every stage of the journey, fill in service gaps that leave families struggling alone, and improve coordination between services. reducing the burden on families who currently have to chase updates or organise care themselves.
It’s a bold step towards fairer, more joined-up support, no matter where someone lives.
The plan highlights that up to 45% of dementia cases could be prevented by addressing certain risk factors such as; high blood pressure, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, physical inactivity, poor diet, social isolation, and much more. By tackling these, the plan not only supports better brain health but could also ease pressure on the NHS and improve diagnosis and treatment pathways in the long term.
The Government aims to give everyone access to personalised health risk information through the NHS app. Buy combining genetic testing, artificial intelligence, and health data. This could include assessing an individual’s risk of developing dementia, individuals could receive insights into their risk of developing conditions like dementia - helping them take action earlier to protect their brain health.
While the plan sets out an ambitious vision, action is what truly matters. Dementia charities like Alzheimer’s Research UK and Alzheimer’s Society are working hard to hold the Government to account and make sure real progress begins well before 2035.
If you or someone you love is facing the challenges of a dementia diagnosis, you don’t have to do it alone.
At Enable and Thrive, we’re here to support, advocate and safeguard every step of the way - whether it’s navigating confusing systems, organising finances, arranging appointments or even sorting utility accounts and benefit applications.
Our Support Services are more than just practical help - we’re that steady hand and listening ear when life feels overwhelming. With us by your side, you can focus on what matters most, knowing you have a whole team truly looking out for you.