Dementia care is a vital issue and I am pleased to report that dementia is a priority both for this Government and myself as the Member of Parliament for Cheadle. In 2015, the Challenge on Dementia 2020 was launched and I am delighted to report that the Government remains committed to delivering this. This sets out the vision for dementia care, support, awareness and research to be transformed by 2020.
 
In March 2016, the Government also published an Implementation Plan to support the 2020 Challenge which has been co-produced with key partners across the health and care sectors. Alongside this, a joint declaration has been published setting out an ambition to improve the quality of post-diagnostic care. 
 
Furthermore, over 660,000 NHS staff have received dementia training with further training opportunities rolled out to all NHS staff by the end of 2018. Over 100,000 social care workers have received some form of dementia awareness training. Indeed, I believe it is hugely important to increase public awareness of dementia and I am encouraged that there are over 1.7 million Dementia Friends and 175 Dementia Friendly Communities in England.
 
I believe that research is particularly crucial to understanding and tackling dementia and so I am delighted that the Government has doubled research spending on dementia. This will total over £300 million by 2020, with the UK's first ever Dementia Research Institute receiving £150 million.
 
The Government has also recognised that integrating health and social care is the most effective way to protect people at every stage of their lives and so I think the increase in NHS spending by a minimum of £8 billion in real terms over the next five years is critical to helping those suffering from dementia. 

Following the 2017 election, the Government is committed to a comprehensive public consultation into developing a social care policy which is sustainable and accessible in the long term. I was delighted to speak to representatives of the Alzheimer's Society at the Conservative Party Conference and I very much hope they will be part of the Government's consultation.