PATIENTS with dementia can be safe in the knowledge they will receive appropriate care at two GP surgeries after staff took part in a special scheme.

The Oaklands Surgery, on Canvey, and The Wakering Medical Centre, in Great Wakering, have both been signed off as being dementia friendly.

The accreditation from the Wessex Academic Science Network means both practices have implemented the iSPACE project, which is a new model for dementia friendly primary care, developed in 2014 by Dr Nicola Decker to improve the care those with dementia receive through better training for medical staff.

There are currently 850,000 people in the UK with dementia, with the figure set to rise above one million by 2025.

The project has seen medical professionals and staff at both surgeries recently undertaking training in dementia awareness and bringing in new ways of working to best support dementia patients, their families and carers.

A new dementia champion has also been appointed in both surgeries and staff are being encouraged to establish a partnership with the families and carers of people with dementia.

The project has also seen patient-centred care plans brought in for dementia patients and the surgeries have been adapted to make them as dementia friendly as possible.

Dr Kashif Siddiqui for NHS Castle Point and Rochford Clinical Commissioning Group and Dr Jose Garcia-Lobera said in a joint statement: “Many congratulations to Oaklands Surgery and Wakering Medical Centre on this accreditation.

“They join Pall Mall Surgery in Southend which became the first surgery in south east Essex to be accredited as ‘dementia friendly’ earlier this year.

“These practices have shown a real commitment to making themselves ‘dementia friendly’ and we hope that other practices in the area will follow in the future.”

The Castle Point Association for Voluntary Services, which supports the voluntary sector across the district, also congratulated the two practices on the achievement.

The teams at both GP surgeries were given certificated to celebrate becoming dementia friendly.

If any local residents are affected by dementia and need help and support, they can contact the local Dementia Community Support Team by phoning 01702 534772 or by emailing dementiacommunitysupport@southend.gov.uk for more information.