Council and health bosses have launched a dementia advisory service in Wiltshire.

Funded by Wiltshire Council and the Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), the service will be available to people with dementia and their carers.

It will provide personalised information and guidance, and give people a named adviser to support them.

Users will be able to meet their adviser wherever they choose, including in their own home. The adviser will keep in regular contact with them, offering six monthly meetings.

Alzheimer’s Support will be delivering the service in west and east Wiltshire, with the Alzheimer’s Society providing the service in north and south Wiltshire.

Maggie Rae, Wiltshire’s director of public health, said: “This service will make sure people with dementia get the right information and support at the right time.

“We recognise some people may find health and social care services difficult to navigate and may wait until they reach crisis point before seeking information. The aim of the service is to make sure people are supported from the point of diagnosis so they can live well with dementia.”

Dr Steve Rowlands, chairman of Wiltshire CCG, said: “This is one of a number of new initiatives which we have developed with the council, many of which are focused on increasing the rate of early diagnosis.

“This project takes this a step further and ensures that those who have been diagnosed, and their carers, are provided with local, dedicated and expert help.”

People who want to contact their local dementia adviser should call (01225) 776481 if they live in west and east Wiltshire, or (01722) 326236 if they live in north and south Wiltshire.

Meanwhile, three dementia co-ordinators have been appointed at the Royal United Hospital, Bath, to provide a seven-day service to elderly patients.