IC24’s Eastbourne Station Health Centre will be part of a new dementia care partnership. In a first for Eastbourne, dementia specialist Admiral Nurse, Gary Burnham-Jones will be leading a new clinic-based service to provide specialist support to families living with the condition. It is one of the first specialist clinics in the country to support families living in the community. Gary will also be supporting local healthcare professionals around best practice in dementia care, such as the need to provide tailored information and support across families’ experiences of the condition. The service is a partnership between national charity Dementia UK and the Eastbourne Central - Victoria Medical Centre Primary Care Network, and is available to carers registered with Enys Road Surgery, Green Street Clinic, Bolton Road Surgery and Eastbourne Station Health Centre.

Dementia UK is the only charity dedicated to supporting people with dementia and their families through their dementia specialist Admiral Nurses. When things get challenging or difficult for people with dementia and their families, Admiral Nurses work alongside them; giving compassionate one-to-one support, expert guidance and practical solutions which can be hard to find elsewhere. Over recent years, local East Sussex fundraisers have raised over £200,000 to support the development of Admiral Nursing in the area.

Within the Eastbourne Central - Victoria Medical Centre Primary Care Network, primary care staff such as GPs, nurses and social prescribers will be identifying carers with complex needs. Carers will be given the clinic contact details and can then self-refer to the service. Gary will be offering telephone and video appointments in line with the current guidance around COVID-19, and face-to-face appointments once restrictions lift. For any other carers who are registered with other local health centres, the Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline is available Monday to Friday 9am-9pm and Saturday and Sunday 9am-5pm on 0800 888 6678.