AN innovative project has been launched to improve care for people with dementia following successful trials in towns across the North-East.

The North Tees Dementia Collaborative: Living well with Dementia in Stockton-on-Tees and Hartlepool is a one year project co-funded by the local health and social care organisations.

The project will build upon the experience and success of similar projects in Darlington and Harrogate, which demonstrated that by working together health and social care organisations can dramatically improve the lives of people with dementia.

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 and this means working with health and social care colleagues to find innovative and cost effective ways of getting them the support and treatment they need, when they need it.”

The project is funded by NHS Tees, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust, Stockton Borough Council, Hartlepool Borough Council, Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) and co-ordinated by NHS Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

Anyone who is interested in taking part should contact the project lead, Christine Murphy on christine.murphy7@nhs.net