Dementia strategy meeting

HEALTH and social services bosses will outline the proposed Norfolk Dementia Strategy at a meeting in Great Yarmouth on Wednesday.

Anyone living and working with dementia can hear more about the proposals and give their views on dementia care at the meeting at The Kings Centre, at 4pm.

Bosses from NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney, NHS Norfolk and Norfolk County Council will speak about a joint strategy as part of the Living Well with Dementia public consultation.

The public meeting on Wednesday is part of an ongoing consultation about the plans, which ends on Friday.

Dementia is caused when parts of the brain stop working properly. There is no cure for the condition, which gets more common with age.

NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney deputy director of commissioning Chris Humphris said: “We really want people to come to the meeting on Wednesday and hear what the plans are for the Great Yarmouth area, but also to use that opportunity to talk to us about their views.

“We are in the planning stage for the future and it is really important we have all the information now when deciding on services for the area for the coming years. We will have a further consultation in the spring for the Great Yarmouth and Waveney area.”

Another meeting will be held at The Assembly Rooms, Norwich on February 10, from 4 to 7pm.

Last year, the number of people aged 65 and over in Norfolk believed to have dementia stood at nearly 13,000.

It is predicted that this number will rise to more than 20,000 by 2025 - an increase of more than 62pc.

Dementia also affects people aged 65 and under - an estimated 400 younger people have dementia, some of whom also have learning difficulties.

To have your say visit www.yournorfolkyoursay.org

Consultation documents with feedback forms are available from the county council's social services department on 01603 228847 and should be returned to: Living Well with Dementia, Freepost, PLZE-CLES-GKSL, Norwich, NR1 2SQ.