Dementia
The Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board and Partnership have published a new five year dementia strategy.
Dementia mainly affects older people, and after the age of 65, the likelihood of developing dementia roughly doubles every five years. However, for some dementia can develop earlier, presenting different issues for the person affected, their carer and their family.
Dementia is the leading cause of death in England and Wales and affects over 15,000 people aged 65+ in Lancashire and South Cumbria alone. Yet, many people are undiagnosed, and those with a diagnosis of dementia and their carers are often unsupported and isolated.
The Lancashire and South Cumbria Dementia Strategy sets out a bold and collaborative vision to improve the lives of everyone affected by dementia, whether patients, carers or the public. It aims to ensure that people receive a timely diagnosis, meaningful support, and compassionate care.
The strategy is built around the “NHS Well” pathway for dementia and focuses on five aspects of care:
- Preventing well
- Diagnosing well
- Supporting well
- Living well
- Dying well
The strategy which has been co-written by health, care and voluntary, community and faith sector partners reflects a shared commitment to delivering personalised, inclusive, and high-quality dementia care and support, underpinned by prevention, innovation, and performance improvement.
The strategy sets out a Lancashire and South Cumbria wide approach to raising awareness and reducing health inequalities for people with dementia. It plans to improve diagnosis rates and ensure personalised care planning. Partners have given a commitment to support carers and help reduce their social isolation. The strategy will result in investment in technology-enabled care and greater research participation. Finally, there is a focus on end-of-life care that is equitable and integrated.
As one of the first tangible outcomes of the strategy, this autumn we will be promoting the planned Post Diagnostic Support (PDS) service which is a significant investment in dementia care. This service provides tailored, ongoing support for people with dementia and their carers—from the point of diagnosis through to end-of-life care. We will be sharing more information and resources to help you signpost individuals to this vital service and ensure consistent access across all localities.
Please share the strategy and engage your teams and networks in conversations about dementia awareness and support and look out for our autumn focus on the planned PDS service and help amplify it.
Connect with us at lscicb.mentalhealth@nhs.net to get involved or request materials
The Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System Dementia Strategy 2025–2030 was developed collaboratively by a wide range of partners across health, social care, and the voluntary sector. The following organisations contributed to shaping the strategy:
- Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
- Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
- Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
- NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board
- Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
- Blackpool Council
- Lancashire County Council
- Westmorland and Furness Council
- District Councils across the ICS footprint
- Age UK Blackburn with Darwen
- Age UK Lancashire
- Alzheimer’s Society
- Carers Link Lancashire
- Dementia Action Alliance
- Healthwatch Lancashire
- Trinity Hospice
- Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisations
- Emergency services (e.g. Lancashire Fire & Rescue)
These partners have committed to delivering the strategy’s vision and action plan, ensuring that people living with dementia and their carers across Lancashire and South Cumbria receive consistent, high-quality, and person-centred support.