DURING my first few months as your MP I’ve spent a lot of time getting to know the many organisations that make our community tick.
Regardless of whether people are in the private, public or voluntary sector, I have been gratified by the amount of work they do to make the constituency a better place.
One such organisation is the Alzheimer’s Society of Hambleton and Richmondshire. The services it offers included day support centres for people with dementia (Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of the condition) in Northallerton, Richmond and Stokesley, and also at Thirsk and Easingwold.
During my visit to the Society’s Northallerton day centre at Bluebell House, I met clients, staff and volunteers and found out about the challenge dementia presents to our health and social care services.
The condition affects people – and the people who love and care for them – in many different ways. It’s not just about losing the power of memory. It makes it harder to do everyday tasks, to communicate and can affect mood and motivation levels. People with dementia can feel sad, frightened, frustrated or angry. It can be very tough for their carers.
If current trends continue, the number of people with dementia in the UK is forecast to increase to more than one million by 2025 and by more than two million by 2051. More and more of us will experience the impact of dementia.
Many people are working hard to meet the challenge. The Prime Minister launched a national campaign to fight dementia in 2012 and the South Tees NHS Hospitals Trust drew up its own plan to improve dementia care the following year and has so far trained thousands of its staff in basic dementia awareness. Also, our local GPs have made it a priority and recently funded a programme which helps older people stave off dementia and depression by encouraging them to talk about sporting memories.
At the Northallerton day centre, I witnessed the superb support work provided by the carers and volunteers and found out how we can all contribute to improving the way our community looks after those with this debilitating condition.
For example, by giving 45 minutes of our time to learn more about dementia and what it is like to live with it, we can become a Dementia Friend. Or we can become Dementia Friendly Communities by increasing awareness in shops, workplaces and the wider community and set up Dementia Action Alliances to bring key members of the local community to act together. I’ll be looking to make this happen in the constituency in 2016.
THE £40m repair work required to keep Big Ben chiming over the Houses of Parliament is, sadly, another example of the widespread problems with the fabric of the Palace of Westminster. Imagine the embarrassment if the iconic clock’s famous bongs were silenced.
When I was first elected in May I was aware that repairs and refurbishments were needed. But discovering that a hard hat and a high vis jacket had been left in my new Westminster office certainly brought the problem home.