Dementia (Hansard, 8 December 2003)

§ Mr. McWalter
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of(a) the number of people suffering from (i) severe dementia and (ii)moderate to severe dementia in Hertfordshire and (b) the number of residential places within the country which might accommodate those with (i) severe dementia and (ii) moderate to severe dementia. [141915]

§ Dr. Ladyman
There is no routine collection of information at national or local level about the number of people living with dementia. Research evidence shows that about five per cent. of the population over 65 has dementia. The research quoted by the older people's national service framework in 2001 estimated that306W approximately 600,000 people in the United Kingdom have dementia, of whom there are about 17,000 people under the age of 65.
All care homes which have the client group/service user category of DE (dementia under 65 Years) or DE(E) (dementia over 65 years) are able to accept client/service users with dementia.

§ Mr. Frank Field
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what measures(a) have been recently introduced and (b) are proposed to provide appropriate residential care for those less than 50 years of age suffering from dementia in (i) England and (ii) Wirral; [141461]
(2) what (a) recent measures have been introduced and (b) what measures are proposed to support those under 50 years of age suffering from dementia in (i) England and (ii) Wirral. [141462]

§ Dr. Ladyman
The national service framework for older people includes a standard about promoting good mental health in older people and treating and supporting those older people with depression and people of all ages with dementia. The standard sets out the key interventions required for people with dementia, a service model, action required by the national health service and councils, and milestones for assessing progress.
In March 2003, my right hon. Friend the Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn), announced that, as part of the eighth wave of its work, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence will be producing guidelines on dementia care. These will benefit people of all ages with dementia.
Local councils are responsible for identifying the care needs of those living in their area and for purchasing or providing the appropriate care. This includes the need for residential care for people with early onset dementia.