TORY MP Sir David Amess is pressing for action for social care reform to stop people being forced to give up their homes to pay for dementia care.

Sir David spoke in a Commons debate to mark Dementia Action Week and called for cross-party talks over adult social care, stressing “dementia is not a health condition we can ignore”.

He said people with dementia have been worst hit by the pandemic, accounting for more than a quarter of all Covid-19 deaths.

Sir David, MP for Southend West, added: “The percentage of those in Southend West—we have the highest number of centenarians in the country—with the condition is higher than the average for England, and the east of England and Essex.

"This is not a health problem that we can ignore, it is a serious local and national issue, although we have some wonderful care homes in Southend that are doing magnificent work on dementia.

“Dementia is so different from many other health problems because the NHS does not always cover it free of charge.

“Our party’s manifesto committed to seeking cross-party consensus to bring forward reform proposals, and stated that ‘no one needing care has to sell their home to pay for it’.”

Sir David said he was pleased social care reform was mentioned in the Queen’s speech, setting out the Government’s legislative programme.