Norwich to get new dementia unit at city hospital

A state-of-the-art intensive care centre is to be built to provide specialist care to help people with severe dementia in Norwich.

The new centre will be built at the city's Julian Hospital, with the 36-bed facility providing clinical care for those most affected by the condition, reports the Eastern Daily Press.

In addition to the treatment aspect, the centre will serve as an academy to help professionals with dementia training, education and medical research into the disease.

The £13.7 million project has been funded by the Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health Trust and is due to open in the spring of 2012.

Trust chair Maggie Wheeler said it is fantastic that something like this can be offered despite the tough times for the NHS.

Pauline Goffin, trust locality manager for the city, added: "This is more than just a building.

"We want people to come here to research dementia, to find out as much as possible about dementia and entire families to benefit."

The Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health Trust recently revealed that the number of people with dementia in the county is increasing by 30 per cent year-on-year.

Read more about Barchester's dementia care homes.