Dementia and the covid-19 pandemic

Early day motion 1156, tabled 18 November 2020 by George Howarth (Labour). Signed by 21 members.

That this House notes the profound and disproportionate impact of covid-19 pandemic on people with dementia and their carers; appreciates the heroic efforts made by family members and friends to care for their loved ones during the pandemic; acknowledges the challenges faced by those with dementia and their carers, including irregular opportunities to visit loved ones in care homes, a lack of personal protective equipment and insufficient testing for care home staff, and inadequate pay, terms and conditions for many frontline care staff; welcomes the Government’s trial of visitor testing in care homes; calls on the Government to consider the recommendations in the Alzheimer’s Society’s report entitled Worst Hit: dementia during coronavirus, including ensuring that family carers are given key worker status and; urges the Government to use the upcoming Spending Review to ensure that dementia services, including research organisations, are adequately funded.

Signatures by party: Labour 11, Conservative 2, DUP 2, Independent 2, Scottish National Party 2, Green 1, Labour/Co-operative 1.