Department of Health appoints dementia guru

A new national clinical director for dementia has been appointed by the Department of Health this week.

Professor Alistair Burns, who developed the South Manchester Memory Clinic, the Old Age Psychiatry General Hospital liaison service and the Dementia Drug Treatment clinic, accepted his post late last week.

The expert's position will be to promote better care of people with dementia in the NHS and care homes while also giving leadership regarding the implementation of the National Dementia Strategy.

Professor Alistair Burns said that he is "delighted" with his appointment to the post, noting how there has been a major growth in public interest over dementia as well as "several influential initiatives" being created, such as the National Dementia Strategy.

He concluded: "The challenge, now, is to build on this to make a real positive difference to people with dementia, their families and carers. I very much look forward to working with colleagues to realise this ambition."

Recently, actress Britt Ekland lent her support to the Alzheimer's Society, calling for people in Portsmouth to raise money for people with dementia in the 2010 Bupa Great South Run.

Read more about Barchester's dementia care homes.