PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Dementia: Music Therapy (16 January 2023)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of music on the lives of people with dementia; and whether his Department is taking steps to provide funding for music programmes to help support care for people with dementia.

Asked by:
Navendu Mishra (Labour)

Music can play an important part in supporting people living with dementia. The Department has commissioned major research on dementia care and living well with dementia from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). This includes research on the methods and effectiveness of music therapy.

In addition, the Department recently awarded £3.6 billion to the National Academy for Social Prescribing to support development of social prescribing. This will develop the evidence base to help thousands of people, including people living with dementia, to access innovative types of support including musical activities.

Answered by:
Helen Whately (Conservative)
23 January 2023