Hunt calls for dementia change

Mr Hunt said the Government was committed to making Britain a world leader in dementia care but said communities also had a role to play in being more supportive of those suffering from the condition.

The Health Secretary said better dementia care was a “win win” as it reduced the need for costly residential care and improved the quality of life for individuals.

He added: “Irrespective of the economic situation we are a fundamentally a decent compassionate society and truth is we have ignored people with dementia for too long.”

Mr Hunt met doctors and other health workers trying to improve care for dementia sufferers as well as the families of those with the condition in Wetherby yesterday.

Among those he met were Megan Sweeting and Natalie Dobson who launched Over the Rainbow Care, a service to help people with dementia, five months ago.

Mr Hunt was joined by Wetherby’s MP, Alec Shelbrooke, who has been campaigning to make Elmet and Rothwell the first dementia-friendly constituency in the country.