Dr Jeremy Isaacs, National Clinical Director for Dementia, NHS England, said:

“It is fantastic news that the NHS has hit its target for diagnosing more than two thirds of people with dementia for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic – and 50,000 more people than the last time this target was hit.

“Getting a dementia diagnosis is the first step in ensuring the NHS can offer help whether it be a care plan or medication review.

“There are lots of reasons why people might appear forgetful or absent-minded, but it could be a sign that something is wrong.

“Issues that may not have been obvious previously such as forgetting or repeating information, difficulty making plans, or word-finding problems are all important.

“If you have noticed that someone has symptoms, please encourage them to visit their GP for an assessment – the sooner someone is seen the quicker the NHS can help.

“As the number of people with dementia continues to rise, it’s vital that we look at how we can provide a fitting and sustainable way to deliver long-term care for people with this devasting disease who are sometimes overlooked, which is why we are working with government to develop a national vision for dementia care.”

• New NHS figures published today show the dementia diagnosis rate for September 2026 met the ambition of 66.7% for the first time since March 2020.
• The latest figures show 523,081 people have a dementia diagnosis compared to 470,292 people in March 2020 when the dementia target was previously hit.
• Primary Care Dementia Data, September 2026 – NHS England Digital