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The Prosser Perspective.... a weekly column from Dover and Deal MP Gwyn Prosser

23 August 2007

Long before I was elected to Parliament the Dover and Deal seat generated a very heavy volume of case work and my predecessor, David Shaw used to describe it as one of the busiest constituencies in the country. I didn’t agree with much of what Mr Shaw had to say but he was right about the case work and if anything it has got even busier over the ten years I’ve been MP.

Many of the problems that constituents bring to my street stalls and advice surgeries are pretty routine and solutions can be found - and for the remainder I can at least point people in the right direction.

But there are exceptions and two difficult areas are finding appropriate accommodation for people with learning difficulties and helping dementia patients get the sort of support they need. But there’s good news on both fronts.

The Health Minister, Ivan Lewis has just announced £175 million funding to build new homes in the community for people with learning difficulties and he’s initiated plans for the first ever national dementia strategy.

The first funding program will help Local Authorities and Primary Care Trusts make the transition from providing campus accommodation to more appropriate independent arrangements for those with learning disabilities.

There are more than 1600 people who have a learning disability currently living in NHS institutions and are not given the opportunity to develop important social skills, or the freedom to make everyday decisions.

Labour’s investment will give agencies sufficient funding to provide housing and day facilities which will ensure that whilst living in the community, individuals receive the necessary support to make a smooth transition to a better way of life and before leaving the NHS campus each person will be individually assessed so they can continue to receive the correct support in their new way of living.

This announcement will finally bring to a close one of the unhappiest chapters in our nation's history. Putting people with learning disabilities in hospitals and large scale institutions was a scandal which disfigured our society. People who are neither a danger to themselves or others have the right to live in the community and I applaud the reform.

Another challenge for society is the need to respond to the increasing number of families who are now feeling the impact of dementia because to be frank – despite a £3.3 billion investment the current system has been failing too many sufferers and their carers.

This cruel disease - whose occurrence is set to double - needs to be brought out of the shadows. We need to minimise the shame and fear associated with dementia so that people and their relatives feel able to seek support at the earliest possible stage in the knowledge they will get expert help and be treated with dignity and respect.

Neither of these important reforms will hit the headlines or curry favour with the electorate but they will make a world of difference to a growing group of people who need and deserve a better deal.