Surgeries in Portsmouth and surrounding areas look to become dementia friendly

GP SURGERIES are starting to become dementia friendly '“ in a move aimed to help improve services offered to patients and their carers.

By The Newsroom

Published 13th Apr 2016, 06:12 BST

Tackling dementia is a priority for the three NHS GP-led clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in the Portsmouth area.

Fareham and Gosport CCG has already helped secure dementia friendly status for Fareham Community Hospital and South Eastern Hampshire CCG is looking to extend this to other community hospitals such as Oak Park in Havant.

So far of the 66 GP surgeries in the area, two have already become dementia friendly – Denmead Medical Centre and Gosport Medical Centre.

But a further 21 have started a process to support the person with dementia and their carer.

Dr Jim Hogan, the clinical lead for Portsmouth CCG, said: ‘As a society, we are living longer – and dementia is clearly one of the most soul-destroying illnesses we encounter.

‘Thankfully, awareness about it is increasing too.’