Barbara Windsor meets Boris Johnson at No 10 to appeal for dementia care

Dame Barbara Windsor has met with Prime Minister Boris Johnson at 10 Downing Street to urge him to give money to improve dementia care immediately.

The former actress had tea with the Prime Minister in the garden of 10 Downing Street and presented him with a petition which called for investment in dementia care.

Best known for her in performances in Carry On films and as pub landlady Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders, the actress was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2014.

She met with the Prime Minister on behalf of the Alzheimer's Society. As an ambassador for the charity, she is backing the charity's call for immediate investment in dementia care through a dementia fund, in a letter written to Mr Johnson.

The public joined Barbara Windsor to sign the letter, which was delivered to the Prime Minister at Downing Street with more than 100,000 signatures on 2 September.

'Sort this out'

Dame Barbara said: "We're lucky to have amazing support but my heart goes out to the many, many people who are really struggling to get the care they so desperately need. Please join us - let's do everything we can to sort this out."

The open letter to the PM stated: ‘Our experience is of a care system that too often doesn’t care – one that is completely inadequate, unfair, unsustainable and in dire need of more money.

'Where support is available, it is of hugely variable quality and unaffordable for far too many.'

It's not the first time, the actress has met Boris Johnson. In 2009, Boris Johnson as London Mayor appeared in an episode of EastEnders speaking to pub landlady Peggy Mitchell about how he can help the people of Walford.

With politicians having promised but failed to publish plans on social care reforms since 2017, the actress, who recently celebrated her 82nd birthday presented the letter to Mr Johnson.

The letter stated: ‘decisive action’ to fix dementia care funding ‘without delay, must be an immediate priority for your government.’

Barbara Windsor was reminded eight times she was meeting Boris

Barbara Windsor's husband Scott Mitchell said: "The last few years have been really hard for both Barbara and I as we've had to get used to dementia being in our lives."

Mr Mitchell revealed he had to tell the actress eight times where she was going, as he explained her short term memory is all but gone.

"Seeing the true state of our social care system has shown me how people, who aren't as fortunate to be in the same position as myself and Barbara financially, are facing a constant battle to get what they need.

"It's time to end the battle people with dementia and their families are facing across the country."