Scottish Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Alison McInnes today (Thursday) challenged the First Minister to take action on the way care is provided to sufferers of dementia, in the wake of the recently revealed case of Mr Ken Maitland.

Mr Maitland’s widow revealed that in the year leading up to his death earlier this month he was attended to by 106 different carers.

Commenting after raising the matter at First Minister’s Questions, Mrs McInnes said:

“It is all too clear that the First Minister does not fully grasp the serious deficiencies highlighted by Mrs Maitland in the care provided for her late husband. Continuity of care – particularly for people suffering with dementia – should not merely be an aspiration. Rather, it is absolutely critical.

“Just three years ago, the Government made dementia a national priority, drawing up a charter of rights including the right for sufferers to ‘Be treated with respect and dignity.’ Clearly that is not happening – not in this case, nor in many other cases across the country.

“It is not enough for the First Minister to rely on his proposals to integrate health and social care services. He urgently needs to issue new guidelines to councils and care agencies to ensure that everyone is provided with an individually-tailored care plan, with a particular focus on continuity of care.”