Nottingham actress Vicky McClure has handed a letter, signed by more than 35,000 people, to Downing Street calling on the government to fulfil its promise on dementia. The Line of Duty Star delivered the letter as an ambassador for the Alzheimer's Society, which is concerned by how workforce issues are affecting those suffering from the disease.
The charity said more than 900,000 people are living with dementia, including an estimated 69,500 in the East Midlands. Ms McClure said the government is "failing people with dementia".
"I’ve seen this first-hand with members of my Our Dementia Choir, who are left struggling and alone after a diagnosis, unsure where to get the support they so desperately need," she said. “Social care workers that they depend on are often utterly broken and exhausted, trying to provide care while being overstretched, under-paid, and under-trained by a deep workforce crisis.
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"Those who care for people with dementia need to be supported; not neglected during a workforce crisis. People living with dementia and their carers must get the basic care and support they need to live fulfilled lives – things like breaks for carers, music therapy, and support groups.
“We’ve heard lots of ambitious words from Government about dementia, but words need to become action. Rishi Sunak must make dementia a priority.” Ms McClure was joined by choreographer Dame Arlene Phillips as she handed the letter to government officials.
Kate Lee, Alzheimer’s Society chief executive, said she was concerned the issue was falling by the wayside. "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," she said.
"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."
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