Sir Ed Davey has visited Royal Star & Garter in Surbiton.

The Kingston and Surbiton MP, and Liberal Democrat leader, met residents at the care home, which provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia, and is within his constituency.

He also spoke to the charity’s members of staff to discuss the challenges faced by the social care workforce today.

During his 90-minute visit on Monday, 6 February, Sir Ed was given a tour of the Home and newly refurbished garden by Royal Star & Garter Chief Executive Andy Cole OBE and Surbiton Home Manager Helena Maher. He saw an art class led by volunteer Lucy Freud, daughter of Lucian Freud, and was taken around the Home’s award-winning dementia care area, and the in-house Physiotherapy room.

Sir Ed spoke to residents, including 100-year-old WWII veteran Phyllis, and met the Home’s youngest resident – 35-year-old Stephen Vause, who suffered serious injuries in a mortar attack while serving in Iraq in 2007.

He then sat with staff in the Home’s newly built garden room to discuss issues surrounding adult social care.

‘One of the most amazing care homes I have ever visited’

Sir Ed said: “Royal Star & Garter is one of the most amazing care homes I have ever visited. Seeing the fantastic quality of care given to extraordinary people who have served and sacrificed for this country underlines the value of good social care.”

‘Heart of the Surbiton community’

Royal Star & Garter Chief Executive Andy Cole said afterwards: “We were delighted to welcome Sir Ed and show him around our Home, in the heart of the Surbiton community. Residents enjoyed chatting to him and he enjoyed taking part in the activities. We are also grateful that he sat with staff and listened to their thoughts and concerns about the state of social care.”

Royal Star & Garter in Surbiton is welcoming new residents. For more information on this, or working for the charity, go to www.starandgarter.org/surbiton