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LONDON — The NHS has reached a record milestone in dementia care, with 506,549 people now formally diagnosed—up from 490,163 a year ago—reflecting growing awareness, improved access to testing, and a renewed focus on early intervention under the NHS’s 10 Year Health Plan.
Dementia remains the UK’s leading cause of death, and timely diagnosis is critical to ensuring patients receive appropriate care and support. In response, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust has launched MinderCare, an innovative at-home monitoring service designed to help people with dementia live safely and independently.
Using discreet sensors placed on beds, appliances, and doorways, MinderCare enables clinical teams to track daily routines, medication responses, and early signs of health deterioration. The system, developed in partnership with the UK Dementia Research Institute and funded by the NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, aims to reduce hospital admissions and improve quality of life.
Dr Jeremy Isaacs, NHS England’s National Clinical Director for Dementia, praised the initiative: “MinderCare is a great example of the NHS trialling cutting-edge technology to help more people live safely in their own homes.”
In the past year, the NHS has delivered over 330,000 care plan reviews and 114,000 medication reviews, underscoring its commitment to personalised dementia care. Officials continue to urge families to seek testing if early symptoms—such as forgetfulness or difficulty with planning—become apparent.
With diagnosis rates rising and new tools like MinderCare gaining traction, the NHS is taking significant steps to address the growing challenge of dementia across the UK.
Excerpts from nationalhealthexecutive.com article by Dan Benn
