Due to the impact of the pandemic, the estimated dementia diagnosis rate fell below the national target for the first time since 2016.

While the rate has recovered slightly since the early part of the pandemic, there is more to do if we are to reach the national target for two thirds of people with dementia to be formally diagnosed.

Last year, £17 million was made available to Clinical Commissioning Groups to address dementia waiting lists and increase the number of diagnoses, which I hope will have an impact in our local area.