MPs met with dementia nursing charity Dementia UK this week to discuss NHS funding for people with longterm health needs.

MPs including Elliot Colburn, Conservative MP for Carshalton and Wallington and vice-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia, and Mims Davies, minister for disabled people, health and work, met with the charity to discuss its Fix the Funding campaign, which calls for fairer care for families affected by dementia.

Other MPs meeting the charity included Edward Argar, minister for prisons, parole and probation, and Justin Madders, Labour MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston and shadow minister for business, employment rights and levelling up.

Dementia UK launched the campaign, which calls for a review of the NHS continuing healthcare (CHC) process, in 2023. CHC is a package of free social care for adults with longterm health needs, arranged and funded by the NHS.

The charity says people living with dementia are missing out on vital funding for care because the CHC assessment process does not recognise and assess their cognitive and behavioural needs.

MPs spoke with dementia specialist Admiral Nurses from Dementia UK, including the charity’s Chief Admiral Nurse, and chief executive Dr Hilda Hayo, as well as people with lived experience of dementia.

Dr Hayo said: “We are calling on the government to review NHS continuing healthcare to address flaws in the application process and ensure that this vital funding is accessible to more people living with dementia who may be eligible.”