6. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported statistics showing that the number of people in Scotland dying from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia has more than tripled in the last 20 years and concerns that the country is unprepared for further expected increases. (S6O-02645)

First, our thoughts and condolences are with everyone who has lost a loved one. Scotland’s new dementia strategy was published in May this year, setting out a 10-year vision for dementia policy. It recognises the importance of being able to access a timely diagnosis and post-diagnostic support that is right for those with dementia and for those who are caring for them.

We will soon publish our first two-year delivery plan, which has been developed in collaboration with people with lived experience and with local and national partners. The plan will include measurable deliverables to help us to achieve the ambitions of our dementia communities, as detailed in our strategy.

I have read the strategy, and I look forward to seeing the delivery plan, because

I find it difficult to see how we get there from where we are now. I recently met a group of carers in Dunfermline, who described to me a dehumanisation of care and a service that is in crisis. Community care is failing people up and down Scotland. What is the plan to tackle the problems that we have right now in social care?

We have invested more than £6 million of ring-fenced funding over the past two years in dementia post-diagnostic support, and a significant further allocation for dementia PDS in 2023-24 will be issued this year to integration joint boards. That is in addition to the estimated investment in dementia by health and social care partnerships of £2.2 billion—a 14 per cent increase since 2014.

In addition, as we have set out this week as part of our £1 billion national health service recovery plan, we will reduce and address waiting times year on year for all conditions, including dementia.

As the member will be aware, Derek Feeley did an independent review of adult social care in Scotland and said that the system, although it works well in many ways, is under strain. His recommendation was clear: if we keep doing the same thing, we will keep getting the same outcome. He made a very strong case for transformational change, which we are pursuing in the form of the national care service. I look forward to Alex Rowley and Scottish Labour supporting us—

The Presiding Officer:

Thank you, Minister.

— in that endeavour.

The Presiding Officer:

I call Christine Grahame.

Thank you, Presiding Officer—I will be brief. I invite the Minister to meet, as I have, with the Dementia Friendly Tweeddale group to learn of its work in supporting carers and those with dementia to continue to enjoy life and their activities after diagnosis, and even add more.

I would be absolutely delighted to do so. I recently visited a dementia meeting centre in Kirriemuir, which was a wonderful experience. I learned a lot from the people who were there, and I would be more than keen to meet the people in Christine Grahame’s area.

The Presiding Officer:

That concludes general Question Time. Before we move to First Minister’s question time, I invite members to join me in welcoming to the gallery His Excellency Mr Miguel Berger, Ambassador of Germany to the United Kingdom. [

Applause

.]