Dementia hub plan for patients and their families

A charity is hoping to build a hub to provide support and services for people diagnosed with dementia and their families.

The project is a collaboration between charity West Berkshire Dementia Hub and the Greenham Trust, which would provide funding.

The building would be close to West Berkshire Community Hospital in Thatcham and would also serve patients in North Hampshire.

Project leader James Wilcox, from the charity, said: "It's local people getting together to try and transform the landscape of dementia services locally and bring everyone together."

More than 2,000 people over the age of 65 are currently estimated to be living with Dementia in West Berkshire, according to the Alzheimer's Society.

Negotiations are ongoing with the NHS to purchase the site, the charity said.

It also said it hoped that a planning application would be ready to submit to West Berkshire Council in the autumn, to coincide with the launch of a fundraising campaign.

Mr Wilcox said: "There is a great need for support and services and that is only going to increase with an aging population.

"It's going to be transformational in West Berkshire and North Hampshire for people living with dementia - they will feel better cared for and supported."

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