Health

18,000 families ‘struggling in silence’ due to lack of dementia diagnosis

Published

2 years ago

December 5, 2024

AROUND 18,000 people living with dementia in Wales do not have a diagnosis, leaving families struggling to cope without support and treatment, Senedd Members warned.

Mabon ap Gwynfor said Wales has the lowest rate of diagnosis in the UK at 56%, warning that dementia is one of the biggest causes of death in the country.

Plaid Cymru’s shadow health secretary paid tribute to Terry Griffiths, the former snooker world champion from Llanelli, who died on Monday following a long battle with dementia.

Mr ap Gwynfor raised an estimate from Alzheimer’s Society Cymru of a 37% increase in the number of people living with dementia by 2040 due to an ageing population.

He told the Senedd that dementia costs the Welsh economy £2.3bn a year, which is expected to double to £4.6bn by 2050 if services do not improve.

Leading a debate on a Plaid Cymru motion calling for diagnosis targets, Mr ap Gwynfor said: “Around 18,000 people are left to cope without the support and treatment they need.

“That’s 18,000 individuals and 18,000 families struggling in silence, without knowing what to do or where to turn. The situation is even worse in rural areas, such as Powys.”

Gareth Davies warned dementia is Britain’s biggest killer, yet spending on diagnosis makes up less than 1.4% of UK health care expenditure, “which seems a staggering oversight”.

He said families are shouldering 63% of dementia-related costs, according to Alzheimer’s Society, with the average bill standing at £29,000 a year rising to £80,000 or more.

His Conservative colleague Altaf Hussain, a former surgeon, focused on alcohol-related dementia and brain damage, warning it is difficult for GPs to identify.

Delyth Jewell said her grandma Doreen, who lived to be 100, had dementia.

She told the Senedd: “The cruellest thing about dementia is how bewildering it is for the person going through it. My parents would visit my grandma. They’d call her multiple times each day. But she’d forget that they’d been.

South Wales East's Plaid Cymru MS Delyth Jewell — South Wales East’s Plaid Cymru MS Delyth Jewell

“She’d think that they’d forgotten her. I remember her calling my parents’ house one day, and I’d answered the phone, and she’d asked me, ‘Why is it that I can’t do all the things I used to do?’ and she wished that she could walk and walk.

“She’d get frustrated, she’d be lonely and she couldn’t understand why it was happening.”

Ms Jewell, who represents South Wales East, said diagnosis rates are stubbornly low at 60% in the Aneurin Bevan health board and “there’s still no dementia plan for Gwent”.

Heledd Fychan, a fellow Plaid Cymru Senedd Member, called for greater support for Welsh speakers living with dementia, warning their needs are too often disregarded.

Mike Hedges, who represents Swansea East, said: “Increasing diagnosis rates across Wales is vital to enable people … to take control of their condition and live independently for longer.

“This supports people to stay out of hospital and in their own homes, relieving pressure on our health and care system.”

Responding to the debate on December 4, Sarah Murphy told the Senedd an independent evaluation of the Welsh Government’s dementia action plan will be published in early 2025.

The mental health minister, whose responsibilities include dementia, said the final report will inform a refreshed plan that will include new targets for diagnosis.

Labour MS Sarah Murphy speaking in the Senedd — Sarah Murphy, minister for mental health and wellbeing

She said: “Ensuring people’s lived experience is at the heart of the development of services is very important to me, and I am committed to the development of robust diagnosis data.”

While the Plaid Cymru motion was defeated, 27-25, a version amended by the Conservatives and the Welsh Government was agreed unanimously.

Health

Stroke services consultation reaches halfway point as public urged to have say

Published

10 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Tom Sinclair

HYWEL DDA University Health Board is urging people to take part in its consultation on the future of stroke services, as the process reaches the halfway point.

The second phase of the eight-week consultation began on May 28 and will remain open until July 26.

The health board is seeking views from patients, carers, staff, local communities and stakeholders on its preferred option for stroke services across Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.

Under the preferred option, a 24-hour acute stroke and rehabilitation unit would be based at Glangwili Hospital, with a stroke rehabilitation unit at Bronglais Hospital. Treat-and-transfer services would continue at Bronglais, Prince Philip and Withybush hospitals.

Stroke services are currently provided at all four main Hywel Dda hospitals, namely Bronglais, Glangwili, Prince Philip and Withybush. However, the health board says services do not consistently meet national clinical standards and that specialist stroke cover is not available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

More than 1,700 people have already taken part in the second phase of consultation, either through public events or by completing the questionnaire.

Mark Henwood, Hywel Dda University Health Board’s Executive Medical Director, said: “We know how important stroke services are to members of our communities and to our staff.

“Providing timely, high-quality specialist care for people who experience a stroke is critical. Stroke care has advanced significantly, and evidence shows that patients have better outcomes in specialist units with access to expert teams and equipment around the clock.

“We are listening carefully to what people are telling us, and this feedback is important in helping us understand what matters most to our communities. Thank you to everyone who has already attended our engagement events, both in person and online. We look forward to speaking to more people before the consultation ends on July 26.”

Lee Davies, Executive Director of Strategy and Planning, said the health board had been meeting staff and communities across the three counties, as well as representatives from neighbouring health board areas.

He said people had raised questions about where they would go for diagnosis and treatment, how transfers between hospitals would work, and why stroke services could not continue as they are across all four hospital sites.

Mr Davies said: “It’s important to reassure people that, now and in the future, if you think someone is having a stroke, you should seek immediate help by calling 999.

“As happens today, and with any future option, they will be taken to the nearest appropriate hospital for assessment and initial treatment. If specialist treatment such as a thrombectomy is needed, patients would continue to be transferred to specialist centres in Bristol or Cardiff.

“Throughout this process we are working with the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust, and other providers such as the Adult Critical Care Transfer Service and national commissioners.

“Once an option for the future of stroke services is chosen, detailed modelling will take place to understand what dedicated transport arrangements will be needed, so this would not impact on emergency ambulance availability.

“We need to make changes to ensure we meet national standards and can provide safe, sustainable, accessible and kind services. We need to give people the best possible chance of recovery after the devastating effects of a stroke.”

The remaining public drop-in events are:

Tuesday, June 30, 2pm to 7pm, Y Plas, Machynlleth, SY20 8ER
Monday, July 6, 2pm to 7pm, Canolfan Creuddyn, Lampeter, SA48 7BN
Wednesday, July 8, 2pm to 7pm, Pater Hall, Pembroke Dock, SA72 6DD
Tuesday, July 14, 2pm to 7pm, Ivy Bush Royal Hotel, Carmarthen, SA31 1LG
An online session will also be held on Tuesday, July 7, at 6:30pm.

Everyone is welcome to attend to find out more, ask questions and share their views.

The health board says all feedback received during this phase of consultation, along with views gathered in 2025 and the latest evidence, will be considered before a final decision is made later this year.

Further information, including the questionnaire, is available on the Hywel Dda stroke consultation website.

People can also contact the engagement team by emailing [email protected] or by calling 0300 303 8322, option 5.

Health

Welsh Ambulance Service stands down critical incident after heatwave pressure

Published

1 day ago

June 29, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE WELSH AMBULANCE SERVICE has stood down the critical incident declared on 26 June following three days of sustained pressure linked to the extreme heat.

The service said demand has now begun to reduce, although it remains under significant pressure.

Members of the public are still being urged to call 999 only in serious or life-threatening emergencies.

For less urgent health concerns, people are being asked to use NHS 111 Wales or the online Albot service for advice and support.

The Trust thanked staff, volunteers, partner organisations and the public for their patience, professionalism and support during what it described as an exceptionally challenging period.

Health

Welsh Ambulance Service urges public to ‘choose wisely’ as pressures continue

Published

3 days ago

June 27, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE WELSH AMBULANCE SERVICE has issued a fresh appeal to the public following the declaration of a critical incident on Friday (June 26), as exceptionally high demand continues to place pressure on crews across Wales.

In a social media post published today (Saturday, June 27), the Trust warned that hot weather is contributing to a rise in ambulance call-outs, including incidents involving heat-related illness, falls, breathing difficulties and existing medical conditions worsened by the heat.

The message comes less than 24 hours after the service declared a critical incident amid unprecedented demand, with ambulance resources stretched across Wales.

The Trust is urging people to call 999 only for serious or life-threatening emergencies, contact NHS 111 Wales for urgent health advice, and use local pharmacies for minor illnesses and ailments.

It said choosing the right service can help ambulance crews reach the sickest patients more quickly while pressures remain high.