Record NHS dementia figures hailed by Wiltshire charity

Almost half a million people were diagnosed with dementia in June alone

More people than ever in England are being diagnosed with dementia as levels hit record highs, according to the latest NHS figures.

The latest figures show a record 487,432 people were diagnosed in June.

But a Wiltshire charity which supports people living with the disease says the figures are not as scary as they sound.

Stephany Bardzil, from Alzheimer’s Support Wiltshire, told Greatest Hits Radio that more people getting a diagnosis is a positive step.

“It’s a bit counterintuitive because we know there are a lot of people with dementia and that’s increasing, which is worrying,” she said.

“However, the fact that there are more people being diagnosed is actually a good thing, a positive thing for them, because in the past the problem with people with dementia in many cases is the difficulty of getting a diagnosis, and the diagnosis can help a lot to humans.”

Stephany added that the diagnoses let people know what’s wrong with them, and that despite the stigma in the past, it’s a medical condition rather than some kind of character flaw.

She said: “If you look at it as a medical condition, your brain isn’t working as well as it was, having that medical diagnosis to explain what’s going on is actually helpful.

“It’s really helpful for the person who understands what’s going on, and also for the whole family, just to have that understanding.”

Stephany also told us that the type of dementia someone has is crucial in the diagnosis phase as well.

“Knowing what it is and knowing the type of dementia, because there’s not one type of blanket that everybody gets, there’s a lot of different shades, there’s a lot of different conditions, and knowing how you’re affected, what your brain is like . actually being affected by this, this disease is actually very, very helpful,” she said.

Stephany told us that there are many early signs of dementia.

“There are so many different things that dementia can affect and when there are symptoms and signs that are unusual for that person, then it’s a good idea to talk to your GP to explain what’s going on,” she said. .

She added that even though it is the “horrible diagnosis” of dementia, it can be a positive first step.

“People who have been through it say they prefer to know because then they’re prepared and can start planning and thinking about the things they want to do.”

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