He is currently Professor of Old Age Psychiatry at the University of Manchester and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre.

Professor Burns developed the South Manchester Memory Clinic, which provides specialist assessment and diagnosis for people with memory problems. He is also an instrumental part of the Old Age Psychiatry General Hospital liaison service and helped establish a Dementia Drug Treatment clinic.

Care Services Minister, Phil Hope said:

"Alistair’s experience of dementia services gives him a unique understanding of what works for people with the condition and their carers. I am confident that he will help drive up standards of care across the country and look forward to working with him to build the best possible services for people with dementia."

Professor Alistair Burns, said:

‘I am delighted to have been appointed to the post of National Clinical Director for Dementia. In the past few years, there has been a great deal of public interest in dementia and several influential initiatives, in particular the National Dementia Strategy. The challenge, now, is to build on this to make a real positive difference to people with dementia, their families and carers. I very much look forward to working with colleagues to realise this ambition.’

Ruth Sutherland, Chief Operating Officer for Alzheimer's Society, said:

‘Alzheimer’s Society is delighted at the news that Professor Alistair Burns has been appointed as the new National Clinical Director for Dementia. This role will provide much needed leadership for the National Dementia Strategy for England and is vital for its success. We look forward to working with Professor Burns over the coming months and years

'One in three people will die with dementia. The National Dementia Strategy provides the opportunity of a generation to transform the lives of the 700,000 people with dementia and their carers in the UK today. By working together we can one day defeat dementia.'

Professor Burns will work closely with the new National Clinical Director for Older People, Professor David Oliver, also announced today, to ensure strong leadership in shaping the future of services for an ageing population.