ALTON Alzheimer’s champion Terry Eccott and his daughter, Sara, had a special day out at St James’ Palace in London.

The occasion was the Alzheimer’s Society People’s Awards in which Terry picked up a gong – before warning of a “ticking time bomb” in dementia care.

The ceremony began with a message from Society chief executive Jeremy Hughes, who sadly couldn’t be present as he was in Japan at a conference but praised the Alzheimers Society volunteers for the “amazing work” they do.

Twelve major awards were presented by Princess Alexandra, patron of the Alzheimers Society.

Mr Eccott, who has vascular dementia, was a runner-up in the ‘Pushing Boundaries’ category for all the work he has done in the past year, from working on the new ‘brand and values’ as well as his ‘welcome day’ presentations and awareness talks around the country.

He said of the award: “It was an amazing day to go St James’ Palace and receive an award and to meet up with so many people who are dedicated to helping those living with dementia.”

Mr Eccott was keen to make a political point, citing what he described as “massive cutbacks” inflicted on all department of the NHS by successive governments who, he says, “have expected the charities, such as the Alzheimers Society, to pick up the shortfall.”

He pointed out that in Hampshire alone there were more than 25,000 people diagnosed with dementia, of which 40 per cent of have vascular dementia and receive “hardly any or no support at all” as their consultants are signing them off because of the cutbacks.

Furthermore, according to Mr Eccott, there is at present no drug to treat vascular dementia, unless it crosses over with Alzheimers disease.

“So that leaves 10,000 people in no-man’s land until they become so unwell that the family cannot cope anymore, only then are they referred back onto a consultant’s books,” he said.

And he added: “The numbers are frightening when you look at them as there are only a handful of hard-working, dedicated workers who have to deal with this situation.”

In Hampshire, there are 10 dementia support workers and 10 dementia advisers working for the Alzheimer’s Society.

“There are, of course, other charities in Hampshire working within communities to support people living with Alzheimers and dementia, many of them working above and beyond the call of duty, but it is still not enough to support the 25,000 sufferers and their families,” said Mr Eccott.

Multiply this problem to take in the whole of the UK and it is “a desperate situation” – a ticking time bomb that, according to Mr Eccott, will have to be addressed.