All-Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia meets for first time

All-Party Groups are made up of MPs and members of the House of Lords who share an interest in a particular subject. Over 60 MPs and Peers have joined the All-Party Group on Dementia. Its purpose is 'to build support for dementia to be a publicly stated health and social care priority in order to meet one of the greatest challenges presented by our ageing population'.

Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, says,

'I am delighted so many MPs and peers have added their weight behind the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia to help make this devastating, incurable condition a political priority. We cannot afford to ignore the challenge of dementia, but planning now and developing a national dementia strategy will save lives and money in the future.'

Jeremy Wright, MP for Rugby and Kenilworth, was elected Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia.

Jeremy Wright MP, says,

'Dementia is one of the biggest health and social care challenges the UK faces, but more needs to be done to highlight its significance. Our vision for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia is to provide a force for driving the condition up the political agenda. It will be run in partnership with the Alzheimer's Society.'

The first meeting of the All-Party Group on Dementia highlighted the Society's better quality care campaign. MPs and Peers heard from Ian Cullen, a carer for his wife who has dementia, and Lauraine Robinson, from the Croydon branch of the Alzheimer's Society, on the benefits that good social care brings to people with dementia and their carers, from supporting a person with washing and eating to providing short breaks for carers. MPs and Peers emphasised the crucial role that dementia care training for social care staff plays in improving the quality of care for people with dementia.

The first meeting of the All-Party Group was followed by a reception which included people with dementia, their carers and special guest Lynda Bellingham. This event gave people a chance to lobby MPs on the findings of the Society's new report, Social Care: A Lifeline for People with Dementia and their Carers, which highlights the difference good quality social care makes to people with dementia and carers.

Background information

• The All-Party Group on Dementia held its inaugural meeting on 18 June 2007.
• List of officers and members of the All-Party Group on Dementia
• The Alzheimer's Society is providing free administrative support to the group.