Work has begun on developing a ward for assessing people with dementia after a public consultation backed the option.

The consultation gathered the views of a significant number of people with an interest in dementia from across the City and Hackney, Newham and Tower Hamlets, including service users, carers, members of the public, clinicians, and stakeholder agencies.

Most supported the proposal to develop a single in-patient assessment ward for people with dementia across east London and the City at Mile End Hospital. Siting the single service across two neighbouring wards (Columbia and Jubilee) within the Bancroft building, was the preferred option.

Now, the NHS East London and the City Board has given the go-ahead to the development of the new ward, and work is underway to design a new ward environment that is in line with evidence on what works for people with dementia. London Local Involvement Networks (LINks) across east London are involved in work, to ensure that design of the ward reflects the views of people locally.

The new ward is expected to be open in April to May 2012.

When considering the proposals, the NHS East London and the City Board asked that suitable transport arrangements to the new ward would be in place for vulnerable adults and their carers. East London NHS Foundation Trust is developing a transport policy that will detail how they will provide support with transport.

The creation of the new ward will allow more money to be invested in services for people with dementia and their carers in the community, with �500,000 available across east London for reinvestment.