Martin Frizell, husband of former GMTV presenter Fiona Phillips, shared a rare photograph of his wife on Wednesday, highlighting her ongoing battle with Alzheimer's disease. Frizell expressed hope that Prime Minister Andy Burnham's commitment to health and social care reform could bring significant changes for those affected by the condition.
Phillips, 65, was diagnosed with the progressive, incurable brain disorder at the age of 61. Frizell posted the image on Instagram, noting that Burnham's recent speech, which addressed the social care crisis as a "major dereliction of public duty" by politicians, offers a glimmer of hope.
Burnham announced on Wednesday that the review of social care by Louise Casey will be accelerated to report next year. Frizell shared a picture of Phillips having breakfast, recalling a past interaction where Fiona was considered for a health minister role. "If the new Prime Minister, who knows what Alzheimer's can do from his father's experience, follows through on making a difference to sufferers like Fiona, his dad and millions of others then he will become the most consequential politician of his generation," Frizell wrote.
He emphasized that for decades, dementia has been a neglected area compared to other diseases, despite being a leading cause of death. Frizell stated that it has taken someone personally affected by dementia for the issue to be taken seriously, raising questions about the affordability of proper treatment. "When your family life is altered forever by a dementia diagnosis you won't be quibbling about one or two per cent extra you've contributed to provide to a proper care system," he added.
Frizell has been advocating for improved government policy to support Alzheimer's patients and their families for four years since Phillips' diagnosis. The Prime Minister acknowledged that the responsibility for the lack of social care reform lies with "my generation of politicians" for not adequately addressing the challenges of an aging society and systemic unfairness.
Burnham suggested that improvements could be made within existing resources, particularly concerning the workforce, and indicated that further reforms might require difficult decisions, which would be presented to the public. He committed to not raising income tax, National Insurance, or VAT during the current parliamentary term. He also pointed out potential savings for the National Health Service from resolving the social care crisis, citing an estimated £2.5 billion annually spent on keeping medically fit patients in hospitals due to a lack of community care. Additionally, he noted that the absence of preventative social care services costs the NHS billions each year.
In an ideal scenario, Burnham stated, individuals should not have to sell their homes to fund their care. He described the process of families dealing with power of attorney and estate management as "horrendous," especially when seeing assets dwindle for care that may not meet desired standards. He believes the current system is flawed.
Reflecting on his previous attempt at social care reform as health secretary, Burnham acknowledged that reforms were likely initiated too late in that parliamentary term and were too close to a general election. To avoid similar issues, he is bringing forward Louise Casey's review to allow ample time for implementation away from electoral cycles. "I think it's best to deal with it early and to listen," he said.
Burnham reiterated his personal commitment to reforming social care, motivated by his father's experience with Alzheimer's and that of millions of others. "This is huge for me," he stated, acknowledging the political capital required but expressing his readiness to invest it to address a long-standing issue with significant risks associated with inaction.
Frizell recently spoke on the program Lorraine about the "wretched" impact of his wife's condition, urging the government to increase efforts in finding a cure. He recounted how Fiona no longer remembers significant dates like Valentine's Day or Christmas, describing the loss of her former dynamism and pride as a "loss of dignity." He admitted to struggling with feelings of guilt and the risk of depression while caring for her, finding respite in his work.
Despite the challenges, Frizell described Phillips as a "stubborn woman" who remains engaged in daily life at home. He has also criticized the government for its perceived lack of action on finding a cure and addressed then-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting. Since Phillips' memoir was published in July 2025, Frizell has observed a lack of public discourse on Alzheimer's. The couple, along with their two sons, have navigated Fiona's delusions, including instances where Frizell had to play along with her belief that he was absconding with her.
Frizell noted that while he and Phillips anticipated the diagnosis as her behavior changed, the confirmation was still "awful." He highlighted the limited support available for the approximately 70,000 people with early-onset Alzheimer's, describing families as being left to manage largely on their own. He added that individuals discussing Alzheimer's or dementia often find it upsetting because the person diagnosed is aware of the disease's progression.