THE views of Thurrock residents are being sought as local councils across the region work to create a new local strategy for dealing with dementia and all its issues.

Thurrock Council is working with Essex County Council, Southend Council and other partners to create a new Southend, Essex and Thurrock Dementia Strategy.

Sarah Turner, commissioning manager for adults, housing and health at Thurrock Council says: "In 2017 as a response to feedback about needing better joined up services for people with dementia and their carers, an overarching joint health and social care Southend, Essex and Thurrock Dementia strategy was agreed by all partners.

"A Thurrock specific implementation plan was also developed at this time.

"This strategy comes to an end this year and we are seeking the views of people living with dementia, their family, friends and carers, professionals, partners and the public on whether the priorities are still the right ones to support people with dementia and their carers to live well. We will then have further discussions locally and produce our own new implementation plan.

"So much has changed in the last year, that we also want to take this opportunity to try and understand the current situation for people with dementia and their carers and what the future might look like. As such, the consultation is in two parts:

• The first part of the consultation is about priorities (are they still relevant? Have they changed?).

• The second part of the consultation is about us trying to understand the current situation for people with dementia and their carers.

"Essex County Council are collecting consultation responses on behalf of all three local authorities in greater Essex (Essex, Southend and Thurrock) and health partners."

You can access the consultation via Thurrock's [L] https://consult.thurrock.gov.uk/

[L+]consultation portal and clicking on Southend, Essex and Thurrock Dementia Strategy Consultation 2022-2027.

There is an easy read version available. After completing the first part of the consultation you will automatically be asked if wish to complete the second part.

Ms Turner concluded: "Due to the current constraints our usual avenues/approaches to involvement are more difficult so I would really appreciate any help you are able to give in promoting the consultation. As with the previous strategy we will develop a more localised action/implementation plan.

"I am hopeful that the situation will have changed later in the year and that it may create more freedom for me to carry out other engagements locally."