Johnson warns of £6bn funding shortfall by 2020

Alan Johnson has warned of a £6bn funding shortfall in social care, as the number of dementia sufferers is set to double in 30 years.

Announcing a review in the NHS, the health secretary warned how under the current system two-thirds of dementia sufferers are not diagnosed.

In a speech hosted at the merged Age Concern and Help the Aged conference, Johnson pledged to put an end to institutional ageism within the NHS.

He highlighted how the dramatic increase in life expectancy over the last 60 years has challenged the traditional concepts of old age.

The growth in life expectancy could lead to automatic retirement at 65 being "consigned to history", Johnson also warned.

"When older people talk about poor quality services, they talk about not being listened to, about being talked down to, about health and care professionals who read the age, rather than see the person," he said.

An estimated two-thirds of people with dementia are never diagnosed, often dismissed in the NHS as an "inevitable consequence of old age", Johnson said.

He warned that should the current "inadequate" system continue there would be a funding shortfall of £6bn by 2020, with the current number of 700,000 dementia sufferers in the UK doubling in 30 years.

Johnson announced the launch of an in-depth review into how the NHS and local authorities can effectively tackle discrimination against older people, led by Sir Ian Carruthers, chief executive of South West strategic health authority and Jan Ormondroyd, chief executive of British City Council.

Calling for a system that "respects people's dignity", Johnson said reforms would have to offer genuine choice whilst ensuring certain basic care standards were the same "whatever their postcode".

The Charity Council welcomed Johnson’s pledge. Stephen Burke chief executive said: "We look forward with interest to see how the health secretary’s important announcement of a ban on ageism will be met with equally significant action on the ground."

For more information on the merger between Age Concern and Help the Aged, please visit their microsite here.