LETTER: Campaign for dementia care

I am only too aware of this after my parents, who both had Alzheimer’s disease, stayed in care homes. My dad didn’t get the right access to mental health services and ended up in hospital, dosed up on anti-psychotics. He died just weeks later.

My mum wasn’t permitted physiotherapy after falling twice and breaking her hip, she was left permanently bed-bound.

As part of Alzheimer’s Society’s Fix Dementia Care campaign, the charity has found people with dementia in care homes don’t have adequate or timely access to vital NHS services like physiotherapy, continence and mental health services, leaving many bed-bound, incontinent or sedated.

One in five care homes also revealed they are being wrongly charged by GP practices for services that should be free on the NHS.

As an Alzheimer’s Society Ambassador, I’m urging your readers to take action to end unfair access to NHS services and GPs wrongly charging care homes. To take action and join the campaign visit: alzheimers.org.uk/fixcampaign

FIONA PHILLIPS

Alzheimer’s Society Ambassador, Alzheimer’s Society, Bishopric, Horsham

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