A raft of new measures to provide better support for people with dementia and improve diagnosis rates in the UK have been announced by the Health Secretary.
Jeremy Hunt said: "Dementia can be a horrific and heartbreaking disease, but it is my mission as Health Secretary to make this country the best place in the world to get a dementia diagnosis, as well as a global leader in the fight to find a cure.
"Today's package is about government, clinicians, business, society and investors coming together to raise our game on every front - from speedy diagnosis to compassionate care, and from help on our high streets to the quest for a cure."
NHS England is to invest £90m in a bid to diagnose two-thirds of people with dementia by March next year, targeting areas where it can take up to 25 weeks to carry out a diagnosis.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt Leading UK businesses have signed up to the cause with more than 190,000 staff at Marks & Spencer, Argos, Homebase, Lloyds Bank and Lloyds Pharmacy set to become "dementia friends".
They will be trained to learn how to spot the signs of dementia and offer support for sufferers.
An estimated 800,000 people suffer from dementia in the UK. Experts say this figure will soar to 1.7 million by 2051.
According to the Alzheimer's Society, one-in-three people aged over 65 will develop the condition, and two-thirds of sufferers are women.
The society's chief executive, Jeremy Hughes, said: "It is unacceptable that some people with dementia have to wait months to get a diagnosis.
"Today's announcement is a positive step forward to increasing diagnosis rates and ensuring that no matter where you live you will receive a timely assessment.
"Too often we hear about a lack of suitable services available to people with dementia and their carers. We welcome the focus on post-diagnosis support which will provide a vital lifeline to thousands who are currently left in the dark, with nowhere to turn for advice or support."
Prime Minister David Cameron has appointed a World Dementia Envoy following agreement between the G8 countries at a dementia summit in London in December.
There are around 800,000 people in the UK who suffer from dementia Mr Cameron has called for international collaboration to urgently find a cure for the condition.
However, Labour warned that the Government must tackle "poor care standards" in order to combat dementia.
Liz Kendall, Labour's shadow minister for care and older people, said: "Dementia is one of the greatest challenges we face as a country. The Prime Minister is right to focus on it and Labour supports the Government's commitments on research, and to ensure everyone with dementia is properly diagnosed.
"But if his words are to have real meaning, David Cameron must do far more to help people struggling to cope with dementia right now.
"£2.7bn has been cut from council care budgets under this Government, hitting the quality of life of hundreds of thousands of people with dementia and their families. This isn't good for them, and is a false economy as an increasing number of elderly people with dementia are ending up in hospitals or care homes when they don't need to.
"The Prime Minister cannot credibly claim to show leadership on dementia unless he tackles poor care standards, like the increasing number of 15-minute home visits which are barely enough time to make a cup of tea, let alone help a frail elderly person with dementia get up, washed, dressed and fed."
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