Alzheimer Scotland presents government with petition to save dementia care signed by 17,500

17,500 calling for urgent action

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.

Alzheimer Scotland has been overwhelmed by public support for its Stop the Cuts campaign – fighting to stop almost £154 million from being cut from services for older people and community care across Scotland.

People living with dementia and carers joined Alzheimer Scotland in presenting the petition to Tom Arthur, Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing, at the Scottish Parliament this morning.

They united to call on the country’s leaders to protect dementia care by bringing in a national standard that would guarantee quality care for all Scots.

Alzheimer Scotland first sounded the alarm about the proposed cuts in July, launching its campaign and online petition.

It warned that vital health and social care services supporting tens of thousands of people living with dementia, their families and carers are being earmarked for closure and severe reductions in some of the most extreme and widespread cutbacks ever seen.

Our research found cuts worth nearly £154 million are being proposed to services for older people and community care across Scotland. Community and dementia-specific services rely on these areas for the bulk of their funding.

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, which provide lifeline support to people who are in a moderate to advanced stage of their illness.

Alzheimer Scotland is calling for the introduction of a national, consistent standard of care that will end the postcode lottery for good.

Henry Simmons, Alzheimer Scotland’s Chief Executive, said: “People living with dementia are being denied the same security, fairness and dignity that others with long-term health conditions can rely on.

“For other conditions, such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes, Scotland already has clear national care pathways. These guarantee timely diagnosis, consistent treatment, and specialist support no matter where someone lives.

“But for dementia, there is no such guarantee. It is the UK’s biggest killer, and yet dementia care is left to a postcode lottery, with provision varying widely from one area to the next.

“This must end – and we have more than 17,500 people signing our petition who agree. This sends a clear message that the time for our country’s leaders to act is now.

“We urge the government to make dementia the priority it must be by introducing our Dementia Care Pathway Guarantees.

“Evidence-based interventions must be given to everyone with a dementia diagnosis throughout the progression of their condition – every time, everywhere throughout Scotland.”

Campaigners warn the cuts would place an unsustainable level of pressure on family carers, while the lack of community support for people with dementia risks speeding up the progression of their illness.

Stuart Dougall, 61, from West Lothian retired after working with the police and prison service. He was diagnosed with young onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2022.

He said: “When I was diagnosed with dementia, I thought that my life was basically over. A turning point for me was contacting Alzheimer Scotland where I realised that it is possible to live well with dementia with the right help and support.

“The support they offer – whether it’s day services, music and art groups or just giving people a place to go for a friendly chat – is so important, both for people living with dementia and their families. The staff are excellent and are specially trained in how to support people with all types of dementia.

“You quickly realise that you are not alone and it provided a lifeline for me.

“It’s unbelievable to think services like this are now under threat. Cuts may balance the budget but they unbalance lives, and we are already witnessing the effects.

“Living with dementia is hard enough. Fighting for support shouldn’t be part of the diagnosis.

“We need a more consistent and fairer system with dementia care pathway guarantees that ensure everyone in Scotland living with dementia receives the appropriate support at every stage of their condition.”

Joanna Boddy, 72, is a retired social worker from Paisley. She cared for her mother who had dementia, and is an active campaigner for carers’ rights.

She said: “Caring for a person diagnosed with dementia can be difficult and isolating without the right support. Access to quality services and support makes such a difference to the quality of life for both the person with dementia and their carer.

“The cuts to day care, post diagnostic support and early intervention will have an enormous impact on carer stress and ill health, leading to crisis and pressure on services such as the NHS and social work, in addition to faster progress of the illness for the person with dementia.

“We already hear lots of heart-breaking stories of carers struggling to get services and the cuts can only mean that this will get worse. We care for people out of love but need help to do that and to make sure we can continue to do that for as long as possible.

“Families need more help, not less. They need the dementia care pathway guarantees so that they know what to expect wherever they live in Scotland and to make sure that care authorities know the standard they need to provide.”