Care England welcomes dementia research challenge but warns people “cannot wait years for change”

Care England, the leading voice of adult social care providers in England, has welcomed the government’s new R&D Missions Accelerator Programme as a positive step towards faster diagnosis and better support for people living with dementia, but has warned that urgent action is needed to tackle the long waits and gaps in care that exist today.

The £5 million initiative, announced today by Science Minister Lord Vallance, aims to harness cutting-edge research and technology to speed up dementia diagnosis by 2029, through innovations such as blood biomarker testing and AI-assisted assessments.

While welcoming the ambition, Care England says the government must act now to address the serious delays that people already face when seeking help. Its recent report, The Current State of Dementia Diagnosis and Care in England (July 2025), revealed that in some areas people are waiting up to two years for a formal diagnosis.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England commented:

“We welcome the government’s recognition that dementia must be a national priority, and we share the ambition to improve diagnosis through innovation and science. New technologies like blood tests and digital tools have the potential to transform how we identify and manage dementia.

The reality for far  too many families is that they are waiting years for answers, where every month of delay is a month lost, a lost opportunity for support, for planning, and for living well with dementia. People cannot wait years for the benefits of innovation to reach them.”

Care England’s report found that in many areas GPs and memory clinics are overstretched, with patchy access to specialist assessments and support. The result is that many people only receive help when they reach crisis point, often after being admitted to hospital, where one in four acute beds is occupied by someone with dementia.

“Innovation alone won’t fix the problem. We need to make sure the foundations of the system are strong. That means properly funded memory services, trained staff across health and social care, and joined-up pathways that ensure people don’t fall between the cracks.”

Care England is urging the government and the NHS to set clear interim targets for reducing waiting times before 2029. It also calls for the adult social care sector to be included as a key partner in the design and piloting of any new technologies, ensuring that they are safe, practical and aligned with real-world care settings.

Care England recognises that while research is essential to improving long-term outcomes, immediate measures must ensure that current patients are not left behind as future systems are developed.

Professor Green OBE concludes:

“This announcement shows a welcome commitment to tackling dementia. We must not let innovation become an excuse for inaction, we need urgent steps now to shorten waiting times, support families and empower care providers. With the right focus and investment, we can make sure every person with dementia receives a timely diagnosis and the care they deserve, not years down the line, but today.”