17,500 names call for halt to dementia cuts

MORE than 17,500 people have signed a petition launched by Alzheimer Scotland calling for urgent action to stop budget cuts that would decimate community dementia care across the country.

- By Ben Borland

The charity said it has been overwhelmed by public support for its Stop the Cuts campaign - fighting to stop almost £154million from being chopped from services for older people and community care across Scotland.

Social care minister Tom Arthur was presented with the petition at Holyrood yesterday. The charity first sounded the alarm about the proposed cuts in July, launching its campaign and online petition. The decisions are being made by Integration Joint Boards (IJBs), who control health and social care spending in each local authority area.

This means that dementia care provision can differ significantly from one local area to the next.

Among the areas worst affected by proposed cuts are care at home, respite and day care services. Alzheimer Scotland is calling for the introduction of a national, consistent standard of care that will end the postcode lottery for good.

Chief executive Henry Simmons said: "People living with dementia are being denied the same security, fairness and dignity that others with long-term health conditions can rely on.