Health trusts are spending money intended for dementia on other things, an MPs’ report has said.
The all party parliamentary group on dementia used the Freedom of Information Act to question primary care trusts on their spending habits.
More than two-thirds of trusts surveyed were unable to say if or how they spent money allocated to them last year by the government when it launched its national dementia strategy.
Only 31 per cent (22) of PCTs who responded said they had allocated their proportion of the £150m made available by the government.
The same number could not say how dementia strategy funds had been spent because the money was inseparable from other funding.
The all party parliamentary group on dementia sent FOI requests to 152 PCTs in England, of whom 70 PCTs (46 per cent) replied.
Jeremy Wright, chairman of the group, said the funds should be audited to ensure PCTs spent the cash on helping people with dementia.
“While evidence does exist of action being taken by many PCTs, it would seem the national dream of the dementia strategy is still a long way from being a reality at local level.
“Better checks on how and where money is being spent are essential if we are to make the most of this golden opportunity to stem the tide of dementia and provide people with dementia with the care and support they need.”
Care services minister Phil Hope said: “With local flexibility comes responsibility and accountability - I will hold local areas to account if they are not investing in dementia services and do not have action plans in place by our deadline on 31 March.”
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