Health and social care combine for dementia project

A project for dementia patients that is co-funded by health and social care organisations in the area has been launched after a successful trial.

The North Tees Dementia Collaborative: Living well with Dementia in Stockton-on-Tees and Hartlepool project has been announced as shadow health secretary Andy Burnham suggests national health and social care budgets should be merged.

According to the Darlington and Stockton Times, organisers hope the scheme will build upon the trial in Harrogate, which demonstrated how care for people with dementia can be improved if health and social care providers work together.

Martin Barkley, chief executive of Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We want to help people remain independent for as long as possible."

He stated that integration between the two sectors is expected to help workers find "innovative and cost effective" ways of providing patients with the support and treatment they require.

Find out more about dementia care and services at Barchester care homes.