People With Dementia Living In Poorer Areas Of England Are Less Likely To Receive Medication

New research suggests that a postcode lottery still exists for people living with dementia.

People with dementia who live in more affluent areas of England are 27% more likely to be prescribed anti-dementia medication than those living in poorer areas. It was also found that people from more deprived areas were less likely to receive a specific diagnosis for a type of dementia.

Researchers looked at anonymised medical records of over 77,000 people from between 2002 and 2013, who had either been diagnosed with dementia or received at least one prescription for anti-dementia medication.

George McNamara, Head of Policy at Alzheimer’s Society, says:  “It is unacceptable that such discrimination should exist in accessing healthcare. This research shows that the poorest people in society are still missing out on vital anti-dementia treatments.

“By 2021, there will be over one million people in the UK living with dementia – access to the medication they need should be the same, whether they are living in Kingston-upon-Thames or Kingston-upon-Hull.

“We urge NHS England to put an end to this postcode lottery, and call on healthcare professionals working in these deprived areas to alert their patients to all the treatment options available. It is essential that we have the right strategies in place to support all people living with dementia to successfully navigate the health and social care system and get the treatments they need, regardless of where they live.”