Review into dementia drugs unveiled

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As he launched a consultation which will produce the first National Dementia Strategy in the autumn, Mr Lewis said the review of prescriptions for anti-psychotic drugs will be completed before the strategy is published.

Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, said it was a "landmark day" and described the review as "urgently needed".

Mr Lewis said the strategy, due out in October, will have three main aims - to ensure early diagnosis and intervention for people with dementia, to improve the quality of their care and to increase awareness of dementia and remove the stigma associated with it.

There are currently an estimated 570,000 people with dementia in England - 700,000 in the whole of the UK - and the Government expects that to more than double to 1.4 million in the next 30 years.

The direct costs of dementia to the NHS are currently estimated at around £3.3 billion per year and the NHS in England spent £60.9 million on dementia drugs alone during 2005.

Mr Lewis said: "Dementia is a condition affecting an increasing number of families in our society and is one of the greatest challenges now facing NHS and social care services. That is why this first ever national dementia strategy is so important. It will set out how we will improve the quality of life for people with dementia and their families, improve the quality of care dementia sufferers receive, increase awareness of the condition and ensure earlier diagnosis and intervention.

"The consultation is about ensuring the final strategy we publish in the autumn truly fulfils my commitment to bring dementia out of the shadows."

Mr Lewis announced that a summit will be held during the summer to consider a planned programme of research into dementia.

The Government will consult on the appointment of a named dementia care adviser who would be the single contact for people with dementia throughout their diagnosis and treatment. It will also hold discussions on whether care homes and acute hospitals should have an identified staff member who is responsible for handling dementia patients, which could help care homes move away from drug-related therapies.