HEALTH professionals, carers and relatives have been invited to attend a meeting to discuss dementia. The seminar, organised by East Devon MP Hugo Swire, will take place on Saturday, May 2, at 2.30pm at the Open Door Centre, Church Street, Exmouth.

HEALTH professionals, carers and relatives have been invited to attend a meeting to discuss dementia.

The seminar, organised by East Devon MP Hugo Swire, will take place on Saturday, May 2, at 2.30pm at the Open Door Centre, Church Street, Exmouth.

Health authority members, a number of care home managers and representatives from mental health organisations will be present and anyone who has a concern about dementia may attend.

Mr Swire hopes to discuss the challenges that individuals with the condition face and how they may be helped more.

"I would like to talk about what the role of Government is in aiding those with those with the disease and what else the residents of East Devon can be done at the Parliamentary level," he said.

The National Dementia Strategy for England was launched in February this year. The programme is backed by �150m over its first two years.

It is hoped the strategy will increase awareness of the condition, ensure early diagnosis and intervention and radically improve the quality of care that people with the condition receive.

As reported in the Exmouth Journal earlier this month, the chairman of Exmouth's Alzheimer's Society said he wanted more awareness to be raised about dementia.

Andy Mack, 62, said if the number of cases continued to rise, the NHS could be inundated with people seeking advice in years to come if it was not publicised more.

Mr Mack, manager of Fernihurst Care Home, of Douglas Avenue, Exmouth, said: "People need to be made aware of how serious an issue dementia is.

"There needs to be more awareness raised not just in Exmouth and Devon but across the whole country. I would certainly welcome a local publicity drive on the issue."

There are more than 100 types of the condition which, while it is not a natural part of ageing, mainly affects people aged over 65.

The most common forms are Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. It causes the loss of mental abilities such as being able to think and remember.

Symptoms can also include changes in personality, mood and behaviour.