Oldham MP demands Government make dementia ‘a priority’

Photo: Jeff Moore

(L-R) Dame Arlene Phillips, Vicky McClure, Ananga Moonesinghe, Alzheimer’s Society CEO Kate Lee, Debbie Abrahams MP and Elliot Colburn MP. [Pic: Jeff Moore]

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP, Debbie Abrahams has joined forces with Arlene Phillips, Vicky McClure and the Alzheimer’s Society to demand Government make dementia a priority.

Ms Abrahams, who is also Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia, joined Alzheimer’s Society Ambassadors, Vicky McClure and Dame Arlene Phillips, as well as Elliot Colburn MP and Ananga Moonesinghe, who lives with dementia, in delivering an open letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Downing Street, demanding the Government urgently fulfil their promises on dementia.

Launched by the charity, the open letter has been signed by over 36,000 members of the public and famous names including Choreographer Dame Arlene Philips and actor Vicky McClure and urges Rishi Sunak to deliver on previous commitments on dementia and to prevent the UK’s biggest killer fall down the political agenda.

Debbie Abrahams said:  "Previous Conservative Prime Ministers have actively committed to improving the lives of people affected by dementia. Now Rishi Sunak must deliver on promises to reform social care, double dementia research funding and release a ten-year plan for dementia which gives the condition the priority it deserves.

“The 36,000 people who signed the open letter are making themselves clear - they don’t just want to hear empty promises, they want to see action. People with dementia can’t and won’t wait any longer.”

With diagnosis rates still sitting below pre-pandemic levels, national figures reveal people are waiting up to two years in some areas for a diagnosis. This means they could be missing out on vital treatment and support. Alzheimer’s Society research also shows three in five people affected by dementia struggled to get social care in the past year, with half of family carers revealing they ended up in crisis, such as rushing their loved one to A&E due to lack of support.

The charity is concerned the deepening workforce crisis in social care – with vacancies sitting at 165,000 – risks leaving people with dementia desperate for help while living costs soar. Alzheimer’s Society say it’s more important now than ever for the Government to prioritise dementia.

The Government has promised to deliver a ‘visionary ten-year plan’ for dementia, to reform the social care system and double spending on dementia research by 2024.  Alzheimer’s Society says the delivery of these will be transformational for the lives of the 900,000 people living with dementia but is calling on the Government to urgently make these a reality to prevent a deepening crisis in dementia care.   

Kate Lee, Alzheimer’s Society CEO, says there is still much to do to increase dementia awareness and support:   “Too many people still face dementia alone, and PM Rishi Sunak has the chance to seize this moment and genuinely transform dementia research, diagnosis, and care for one of the biggest health challenges in the UK. 

“We’ve welcomed previous commitments from the Government, but we’re concerned they’re falling by the wayside. The recommitment to the National Dementia Mission – to double dementia research spend – was a promising step, but we’re yet to see tangible action, while progress on the ten-year plan on dementia has stalled and social care reform scrapped.

“When asked for an update, the Government have told us ‘in due course’ 25 times, which isn’t good enough – sadly dementia doesn’t wait for ‘due course’. Quite simply, dementia is not a priority.

Ananga, 76, who lives with dementia, says she hopes the trip to Downing Street sends an important message to the Government.

“When I was diagnosed, in the two years under the care of the Memory Clinic I was only told I had dementia and given medication. I didn’t get enough support and had to find it all out on my own. Dementia is just as important as any other condition and the Government need to make good on their promises for people living with dementia now and in the future.” 

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.