A son has described the six years of heartbreak he suffered dealing with his mother's Dementia to Whipps Cross Hospital staff.

Barts Health NHS Trust hosted the the talk by Tommy Whitelaw, a carer and campaigner from Glasgow as part of his ‘You Can Make a Difference’ campaign, yesterday (May 19).

The audience of health and social care staff at the Leytonstone Hospital listened as Mr Whitelaw detailed his experience of caring for his late mother Joan, who had vascular dementia.

“It was six years of heartbreak, joy, struggles, loneliness, isolation and a lack of understanding, because I didn’t have a clue about Dementia," he said.

“She wrote on her arm to remind herself of her name and left notes to remind her that the man in her house was in fact her son.”

“We were both falling apart together.”

"This is about sharing the experiences of living with and caring for my mum, and the things that lifted us high and brought opportunities to our lives.

"It is also about sharing the things that held us back."

Dementia is an illness caused when parts of the brain stop working and has 820,000 sufferers living in the UK.

Clinical Nurse Specialist in the condition, Lucy Cosgrove, said: 

“It is vital that we hear from people like Tommy, so that we can gain an unflinching insight into what it is like caring for a loved one with dementia.

"By listening to our patients and carers, we can also ensure their views are heard, and that any specific care needs are met.”