A successful pilot scheme has led to additional investment being made into dementia care across Norfolk.

Three Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) will develop their services based on the two-year scheme which saved £440,000 in the first 10 months.

The pilot saw an Admiral Nurse service, provided by Dementia UK, introduced in the Dereham and Watton areas, which come under the South Norfolk CCG.

The community based scheme was seen to reduce the families' need for contact time with GPs, nurses and social workers and it also avoided unnecessary hospital admissions and care home costs.

The pilot was paid for by a two-year grant from the People's Lottery and additional funding from the Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust (NSFT).

South Norfolk CCG will be funding an Admiral Nurse consultant and two Admiral Nurses while Norwich CCG will be funding an Admiral Nurse consultant.

West Norfolk CCG have also announced that they will be expanding their dementia services with more post diagnostic support for people living with dementia and their carers including Admiral Nursing, Dementia Advisers and Dementia Support Workers.

Age UK has provided funding for two Dementia Wellbeing Coordinators for South Norfolk.

Zena Aldridge, Norfolk Admiral Nurse Lead, said: 'I am delighted that Admiral Nurses will continue to be present in Norfolk and that more people with dementia, their families and professionals will be able to access specialist support in the local area. I look forward to working corroboratively with the CCG's in the further development of dementia services for Norfolk as we build on the success of the pilot.'

Debbie White, director of operations at Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'Admiral Nurses have made a great difference to people with dementia and their families in Norfolk by giving them help and support in the patients' home.'

What do you think? Write to doug.faulkner@archant.co.uk