Positive response to PM Andy Burnham's pledges on social care

Positive response from CEOs of dementia charities following PM’s pledges on social care reforms.

Hilary Evans-Newton CBE, Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:
“It’s hugely important to hear the Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Secretary of State Yvette Cooper speak so openly about their personal experiences of dementia. Their stories will resonate with millions of people across the UK who have seen first-hand the devastating impact these conditions can have on the people they love.

“We welcome the Government’s commitment to put social care reform back on the national agenda through the Casey Review and the Big Conversation on the future of care. Baroness Casey is right to highlight dementia as one of the biggest challenges facing our health and care system, and it is vital that the needs of people affected by it are at the heart of this work.

“But we must also look at the opportunity to change the trajectory of these diseases. Dementia is not an inevitable part of ageing but the result of diseases of the brain. Today, new treatments can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, and research is opening up new possibilities for earlier diagnosis and more effective treatment.

“Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer. Improving care and support for people affected today, while accelerating progress towards the treatments of tomorrow, must be central to building a fairer, more sustainable health and care system.”

Caroline Rassell, Chief Executive of Parkinson’s UK, said:
“The Prime Minister is right: social care has been kicked down the road for far too long, and people with Parkinson’s and their families are paying the price every single day.

“Cross-party dialogue on social care is a welcome step forward, one we’ve called for for years, but talk and ambitions alone will not fix a broken system. Consensus in Westminster must translate into urgent relief on the ground.

“Right now, thousands of people living with Parkinson’s are stuck in hospital beds because community care doesn’t exist. Others are forced to rely on hardworking care workers who lack basic training on time-critical medication and complex neurological needs. Meanwhile, unpaid carers are burning out in silence.

“We welcome the accelerated timeline for the Casey Commission. Our priority is making sure that the voice of the Parkinson’s community is heard loud and clear in the Big Conversation, to move us towards a truly person-centred care system. The government must not just listen—they must act with the urgency this crisis demands.”