Andy Burnham is facing renewed pressure to introduce a formal waiting-time target for dementia care after an 18‑week referral‑to‑treatment benchmark won backing from England’s former national cancer director. The proposal, which would place dementia alongside other conditions that already have time-based standards, has been presented as a way to create a measurable standard for access to memory services and specialist assessment.
The suggested 18‑week referral‑to‑treatment interval mirrors an established NHS approach for elective care and aims to reduce uncertainty for patients and families. Advocates of a set limit say it would provide a clear timetable for assessment, diagnosis and the start of appropriate support, while enabling closer monitoring of service performance. Information on how referral-to-treatment frameworks operate is available from the NHS, and the change would directly affect provision of dementia services across the region.
As mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham is a central figure in shaping regional health and social care priorities, and his response would determine whether the proposal is translated into local policy. Introducing a waiting-time target would require coordination with health commissioners, providers and community services to ensure capacity for timely assessments and follow-up care. Observers note that setting a target is only the first step; sustained investment and operational planning are necessary to meet any new standard and to avoid unintended consequences for other services.
Support from a former national director of a high-profile health programme strengthens the argument for a standardised timeframe, but it does not guarantee adoption. Stakeholders will be looking for detailed proposals on implementation, monitoring and funding before judging the feasibility of an 18‑week benchmark. It remains to be seen whether the mayor’s office will endorse the measure or pursue alternative approaches to reduce delays in access to specialist dementia care; developments are likely to shape regional policy on NHS services in the coming months.