Dementia agony of Dr Who actor Eccleston

THE former Doctor Who actor Christopher Eccleston was thrown out of his house on Christmas Day because his father, suffering from dementia, did not recognise him.

Eccleston’s father, Ronnie, was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2000 and died in 2012 aged 83.

“I made him afraid, so he basically got me out of the house, what I mean is, I understood I needed to leave, so he could be more comfortable,” he said.

Eccleston continued: “In 1945, we decided we would care for our citizens and that has slowly been eroded. The Government needs to have an initiative where carers are paid and celebrated and acknowledged.”