South Swindon MP Heidi Alexander visited Nationwide’s Regent Street branch to learn more about its new free expert clinic for those impacted by dementia.
The condition is the country’s leading cause of death.
Ms Alexander met with senior branch manager Peter Souster and Admiral Nurse Sarah Merrill to see first-hand how the team supports the local community.
With around a million people living with dementia in the UK today, and that figure set to increase to 1.6 million by 2040, Mr Souster encouraged anyone affected by dementia, including family and friends, to book an appointment.
Slots are still available for the next clinic on 10-12 September. The clinics are free and available to all, including non-Nationwide customers.
The programme is currently in a pilot phase across Wiltshire and will gradually roll out to 200 of Nationwide’s branches from next month, with 30 Admiral Nurses bringing specialist health support to the high street with the aim of helping more than 100,000 people living with dementia.
In-branch dementia services include health advice and financial support, including support on how to best care for someone with dementia, as well as legal issues and emotional support.
Admiral Nurse Sarah Merrill, who ran the first Swindon branch clinic this week, said: “By basing Admiral Nurses in Nationwide branches, we’re able to offer specialist, tailored care and support on all aspects of dementia, as well as helping people find other local services for people living with dementia.
“Heidi’s support for this initiative will help us reach more local people through our clinics and enable us to deliver the support Admiral Nurses offer to as many families in Wiltshire as possible. Anyone who is affected by dementia can book an appointment by visiting www.dementiauk.org/nationwide.”
It is the first time a major UK financial firm has used branches to provide face-to-face dementia clinics. It forms part of Nationwide’s new social impact programme, Nationwide Fairer Futures, which addresses three of the country’s biggest social issues through charity partnerships – dementia (Dementia UK), youth homelessness (Centrepoint) and family poverty (Action for Children).
Dementia UK is the specialist dementia nursing charity that is there for the whole family. Its nurses, known as Admiral Nurses, provide free, specialist advice, support and understanding to anyone affected by dementia, whenever it’s needed.
Peter Souster, Senior Branch Manager at Nationwide on Regent Street, said: “We have had such a positive response to our first week of dementia clinics here in Regent Street and it was great to welcome Heidi Alexander MP into the branch to learn more.
"Initiatives like the new dementia clinics are only possible because of Nationwide’s commitment to face to face banking on high streets up and down Britain.
"I know the team are looking forward to welcoming more people for clinics in September and beyond.”
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