Minister highlights social care challenges and dementia research hope
UKPulse Health Desk
Minister of State for Social Care and Mental Health, Alison McGovern, addressed the Alzheimer's Society Conference 2026, discussing the historical undervaluing of social care and expressing hope for future dementia treatment.
- Minister Alison McGovern spoke at the Alzheimer's Society Conference 2026.
- She highlighted that nearly four in five of the 1.5 million care workforce are women.
- Recent polling estimates approximately 1,500 people in Britain quit their jobs daily to become unpaid carers.
Alison McGovern, the Minister of State for Social Care and Mental Health, delivered a keynote speech at the Alzheimer's Society Conference 2026 in London today. She reflected on the historical challenges in prioritising social care on the political agenda.
The Minister noted that the 1.5 million strong care workforce is predominantly female, with just under four in five being women. More than one in five care workers are on zero-hours contracts, and over two in five do not work full-time. Additionally, a third of these workers provide unpaid care for an adult outside of their paid employment.
McGovern also cited recent polling commissioned by Carers UK, which estimates that around 1,500 people in Britain leave their jobs each day to become unpaid carers. She expressed hope for the future of dementia treatment, stating that scientific advancements are providing optimism for the next generation to prevent, contain, and treat the disease.
Why this matters: The speech highlights ongoing challenges within the social care sector, particularly concerning the workforce and the impact on unpaid carers, while also pointing to future hopes for dementia management.
What this means for you: If you are a care worker or an unpaid carer, the issues raised in the speech reflect ongoing challenges in the sector, including working conditions and the impact of caring responsibilities.