ENGLAND spends 13.8 per cent of the total NHS budget on mental health care – one of the highest levels in Europe.

People who need mental health care on the NHS have a high level of access to a professional. There are 12.7 psychiatrists per 100,000 people, compared to the European average of 8.9.

A report by the World Health Organisation lauded England as a sterling example to the rest of Europe.

Sadly, the report, which was published last month, concealed a rather less rosy picture of NHS care for patients who suffer from dementia.

Help for English people who have dementia remains in the bottom third of Europe.

Today, we reveal how more than 1,600 care home places for dementia patients in the region have been lost in the past four years.

Worst hit was County Durham and North Yorkshire, with more than 600 lost beds between them.

We acknowledge the Department of Health’s argument that many dementia sufferers feel more secure in their home environment but, sadly, it is not always possible to provide adequate in-home care for patients with advanced symptoms.

As the number of people with dementia is expected to rise from 700,000 to more than a million in the next 15 years, we have to agree with the Alzheimer’s Society which said recently it is time to take dementia care out of the Dark Ages and bring it into line with the rest of Europe.

Darlington, Middlesbrough, Stockton and Hartlepool have bucked the trend for fewer care home places – why not other areas?

We look forward to the publication of the Government’s National Dementia Strategy for England with interest, but note with some concern that it is already a month late.