In September and October, Alzheimer’s Society (UK) attended and exhibited at the Labour and Conservative Party Conferences - the two main political parties in the UK.
Across both conferences Alzheimer’s Society spoke with over 100 members of parliament (MPs) and local councillors, drawing their attention to the issues people affected by dementia face in accessing and paying for care, and highlighting the policy recommendations from the “Fix Dementia Care” campaign.
At the Labour Party Conference the stall was visited by Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn MP and Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell MP. They both agreed that the social care system needed urgent reform and the Alzheimer’s Society delegation shared some of their campaigner’s stories with them.
Later in the week the delegation was joined by volunteers with personal experience of the dementia care system. Philip Scott, whose mother has dementia, Sandra Briant and her husband Andy, whose mother also has dementia shared their stories with MPs and Councillors who visited the stand including with Labour’s care spokesperson, Barbara Keeley MP.
Philip Scott said: “It was a very useful platform to get the message across. I had several conversations in which I felt people clearly understood something has to be done.”
The following week at the Conservative Party Conference, Mr Scott joined them once again, alongside Howard Gordon who lives with dementia and is a member of the 3 Nations Dementia Working Group.
Alzheimer’s Society’s stall was visited by Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock MP and Howard Gordon spoke with him about his own condition and the need for better and more affordable care. Matt Hancock reiterated that this issue remains a Government priority and that the Department of Health and Social Care will continue to speak with Alzheimer’s Society about its plans.
Throughout both conferences the Society’s delegation, including Chief Executive Jeremy Hughes, attended conference events, round tables and meetings to share Alzheimer’s Society’s policy and campaign messaging with politicians and other key stakeholders from the sector.
Alzheimer’s Society is now following up with the Councillors and MPs to ensure that people, like Howard Gordon, Philip Scott and Sandra Briant, urgently get the support they need and a properly-funded dementia care system.
