Poll: Should GPs be paid for diagnosing dementia?
GPs are set to receive a £55 bonus to diagnose dementia. What do you think?
The Patients Association has condemned the plans - understood to be the first national initiative to reward doctors for diagnosing patients with a condition - as "a step too far".
Under the scheme, doctors are said to be able to receive the money for every extra patient given a diagnosis of dementia over a six-month period.
Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients Association, said it was "a distortion of good medical practice".
She said: "We know GPs receive incentive payments to find all sorts of conditions, such as high cholesterol, raised blood pressure and diabetes - but this seems a step too far. It is putting a bounty on the head of certain patients.
"Good GPs will be diagnosing their dementia patients already. This seems to be rewarding poor GPs."
Dr Martin McShane, NHS England national director for long term conditions, said: "Dementia can be devastating both for individuals and their families. We know that more needs to be done across the health service to ensure that people living with dementia are identified so that they can get the tailored care and support they need. This additional investment is part of a drive to ensure this."
Should GPs be paid for diagnosing dementia? Vote in our poll and have your say in the comment box below.