A proposal to establish an 18-week referral-to-treatment target for dementia patients is gaining momentum, with high-profile support from England's former national cancer director. The initiative aims to standardize the timeline for diagnosis and care, ensuring that patients receive timely intervention after being referred by their primary care physicians.

Supporters of the target argue that dementia care currently lacks the structured urgency applied to other conditions, such as cancer, where 18-week targets are already standard practice. By applying this framework to dementia, advocates believe the healthcare system could reduce the significant delays many families currently face when seeking a diagnosis and subsequent support services.

Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, is being urged to adopt this target within his region. Proponents suggest that if successful, this regional implementation could serve as a pilot program for broader national policy changes. While the proposal has received backing from clinical experts, there is ongoing discussion regarding the logistical challenges of meeting such a target, particularly given the current strain on memory services and the workforce shortages in specialized dementia care. The debate centers on whether a formal target will drive necessary improvements in service capacity or if it will simply create administrative pressure without the required funding to support increased patient volume.