bbc-data-unit / dementia-diagnoses

UK dementia diagnoses rise 40% in five years

UK dementia diagnoses rise 40% in five years

In December 2019 the BBC Shared Data Unit reported some parts of the UK had seen the number of people diagnosed with dementia more than double in five years, according to analysis of NHS data.

A drive to increase diagnosis rates and an ageing population were behind the increase, experts said.

Charities said dementia care provision must improve, calling it a "ridiculous lottery", and "very hit or miss".

NHS England said it was a priority to diagnose dementia earlier so people could receive correct treatment.

This piece of content was produced by a regional newspaper reporter working alongside BBC staff.

The Shared Data Unit makes data journalism available to news organisations across the media industry, as part of a partnership between the BBC and the News Media Association. Stories generated by the partnership included:

• ITV News Meridian: Sharp rise in number of people diagnosed with dementia in the South East 19 December 2019
• Belfast Telegraph: Dementia numbers in Western Trust rise by a third as charity makes call for greater support 19 December 2019
• Signal 107FM: Rise in dementia diagnosis across West Midlands 19 December 2019
• JackFM: Dementia diagnosis in Oxfordshire rises by 63% 19 December 2019
• The Scotsman: UK charities in plea for more help with dementia 19 December 2019
• Kent Online: NHS dementia rates rise significantly in Kent and Medway 19 December 2019
• Kent Online: Dementia patients more than doubles in Kent 19 December 2019
• KMTV: TV made for Kent: NHS dementia rates have more than doubled in Kent 19 December 2019
• Dudley News: Huge rise in number of people on Dudley's dementia register 19 December 2019
• Stamford Mercury: Dementia diagnosis rises in Rutland and South West Lincolnshire 19 December 2019
• Ludlow Advertiser: Huge rise in number of people on Dudley's dementia register 19 December 2019
• Bolton News: Number of people in Bolton living with dementia rises 26 per cent in five years 19 December 2019
• Care Home Professional: Dementia rates more than double in some parts of the country, NHS data shows 19 December 2019
• ITV Anglia: Dementia rates increase by over 50% in five years in some East of England areas 18 December 2019
• Sunderland Echo: Rise in number of people in Sunderland on dementia register 20 December 2019
• Rochdale Online: Dementia diagnoses up by a third from 2014 20 December 2019
• Lynn News: West Norfolk dementia diagnoses rise by 53% over five years 23 December 2019
• Eastern Daily Press: Sharp rise in dementia diagnosis rates across Norfolk 23 December 2019
• Nantwich News: 40% rise in dementia patients in South Cheshire, latest figures show 28 December 2019
• Hertfordshire: The Comet: Dementia care branded 'hit or miss' as diagnosis rates increase across Hertfordshire and beyond 2 January 2020
• Eastbourne Herald: Sharp rise in dementia diagnosis rates across East Sussex 13 January 2020
• News Letter: Northern Ireland lagging behind rest of the UK in getting dementia diagnosed 3 February 2020
• Londonderry Sentinel: Northern Ireland lagging behind rest of the UK in getting dementia diagnosed 3 February 2020
• Coleraine Times: Northern Ireland lagging behind rest of the UK in getting dementia diagnosed 3 February 2020
• Ballymoney and Moyle Times: Northern Ireland lagging behind rest of the UK in getting dementia diagnosed 3 February 2020
• Lurgan Mail: Northern Ireland lagging behind rest of the UK in getting dementia diagnosed 3 February 2020
• Banbridge Leader: Northern Ireland lagging behind rest of the UK in getting dementia diagnosed 3 February 2020
• Carrick Times: Northern Ireland lagging behind rest of the UK in getting dementia diagnosed 3 February 2020
• Larne Times: Northern Ireland lagging behind rest of the UK in getting dementia diagnosed 3 February 2020
• Newtownabbey Times: Northern Ireland lagging behind rest of the UK in getting dementia diagnosed 3 February 2020
• Mid-Ulster Mail: Northern Ireland lagging behind rest of the UK in getting dementia diagnosed 3 February 2020
• Tyrone Times: Northern Ireland lagging behind rest of the UK in getting dementia diagnosed 3 February 2020
• Ballymena & Antrim Times: Northern Ireland lagging behind rest of the UK in getting dementia diagnosed 3 February 2020
• Ulster Star: Northern Ireland lagging behind rest of the UK in getting dementia diagnosed 3 February 2020
• Derry Journal: Dementia diagnoses in Western Trust three times higher than average in the North 4 February 2020

The story was also used by BBC London, BBC South East Today, BBC Midlands Today, BBC Radio Nottingham, BBC Radio Kent, BBC Radio York, BBC Radio Shropshire, BBC Radio Leeds and BBC Hereford & Worcester.

Get the data

• Dementia diagnoses across the UK

Background and briefing

• A full briefing pack on the story can be found here

Scripts

Tom Bokros's R scripts can be found in his repo here