England’s dementia pathway is buckling — from the scrapping of the national diagnosis-rate target in January 2025 to growing waits that leave families in limbo. We unpack what removing the 66.7% benchmark has meant for accountability and access, and why early identification keeps slipping down the agenda.

Drawing on new findings, we explore a stark picture: nearly one in three people wait over a year for a formal diagnosis, with memory-clinic waits stretching far beyond that in some areas — the very definition of a postcode lottery. We also hear how 72% weren’t signposted to any support while they waited, and why only around a quarter found post-diagnosis help truly useful.

Frontline care workers are propping up a strained system — 82% report helping residents secure a diagnosis — yet workforce support and consistent pathways remain patchy. We examine practical fixes, from a national, standardised diagnostic route to “Waiting Well” models that provide wrap-around support from referral to care planning.

Listen for clear recommendations — and for the voices of people living with dementia, families, and carers — on how to cut delays and rebuild trust in England’s dementia care.