To raise awareness of dementia services offered in Dorset, a one-hour webinar is to take place at 2pm on Tuesday 17 May during Dementia Action Week, which runs from 16-22 May.

The event will also encourage professionals who work in roles where they may come across people with memory problems or early signs of dementia to act on this, and will explain how they can refer people to local services which provide dedicated support.

Professionals who work across health and social care, emergency services, charities and dementia-friendly organisations such as churches and community groups are invited to attend the event, and can register online at www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/dementia-pathway-launch-event.

Dorset’s dementia service pathway is a partnership including Dorset HealthCare, NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Help & Care, Age UK and Prama, and each organisation will present during the event to explain their role and what they offer.

Dr Paul French, clinical lead for dementia at the NHS Dorset CCG, said: “This launch event represents the culmination of several years’ work. The dementia pathway brings new investment to improve the diagnostic process as well as increase the support available to people with dementia, and their families, following diagnosis.

“It’s crucial local professionals across a range of sectors are aware of the dementia service pathway and what it can offer. Working together, we can all act on dementia and help people get diagnosed and receive the support they need to continue living a fulfilling life.”

Jimmy Roscoe, 79, from Poole, has dementia and will also be sharing his own personal story about the support he receives from the service. He said: “Having the support of this new service is fantastic and is good for my mental wellbeing. Dementia gets put in my back pocket and I am treated like a ‘normal’ person. Dementia, unlike other illnesses, has never been at the forefront of healthcare and that needs to change. With the help of the dementia service pathway, I can now see those changes starting to be made and people are now becoming more aware.”

Further information on the dementia service pathway is also available at www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/dementia.