Dementia reforms 'may not be enough'

NHS reforms will not be sufficient to deal with the growing demand for dementia care in London, a study by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has found.

The think tank has released a report suggesting that one in three GPs in the capital are unable to diagnose the condition or to provide an adequate level of support for people with it.

Rick Muir, associate director at the IPPR, said it is not guaranteed that changes resulting from the Department of Health's audit of dementia will have an effect.

"It's essential under the new commissioning framework that both GPs and social care commissioners are held truly accountable," he added.

"If this doesn't happen, many vulnerable … people will not get the care they need."

The study also called for greater scrutiny from local authorities over the care that is provided.

Earlier this month, the Alzheimer's Society said more than half a million people in the UK will be living with dementia that has gone undiagnosed by 2021.

Read more about Barchester's dementia care homes.