New data on how dementia impacts NHS hospitals published by the Alzheimer’s Society 

The Alzheimer’s Society has published new data for World Alzheimer’s Month showing how people with diagnosed and undiagnosed dementia are using NHS hospitals. 

The data comes from research undertaken by CF (Carnall Farrar Ltd) using the records of 26,000 people with dementia dating back seven years.  

Key findings include: 

  • People living with undiagnosed dementia attend A&E three times more than those without the condition, accounting for more than 520,000 visits each year. 
  • People with undiagnosed dementia, on average, attend A&E one and half times per year which is more than people with mild, moderate and severe dementia, and three times as much as people without dementia but with similar conditions.   
  • On average, someone with severe dementia will stay four times longer in hospital than someone with similar characteristics but who does not have dementia.  
  • By 2025, the number of people with dementia requiring acute hospital beds will reach 20,500 and by 2040 this will increase to 29,400, an increase of 43%.  

You can read more here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/news/2024-09-16/living-with-undiagnosed-dementia-three-times-more-likely-visit-ae