PREDICTIONS of a huge rise in the number of dementia sufferers in Suffolk have resulted in more funding being put into patient services.Just over �800,000 has been earmarked by NHS Suffolk's Commissioning Approvals Board to improve services in the county and prepare for the future increase.

PREDICTIONS of a huge rise in the number of dementia sufferers in Suffolk have resulted in more funding being put into patient services.

Just over �800,000 has been earmarked by NHS Suffolk's Commissioning Approvals Board to improve services in the county and prepare for the future increase.

Latest figures show that the number of people aged over 65 diagnosed with dementia in Suffolk is due to rise from 10,210 this year to 16,327 in 2025.

A board meeting will be held by health chiefs on Wednesday in an attempt to implement a number of proposals.

Top of their priorities is creating a new early intervention dementia service to help diagnose the disease as quickly as possible to give patients the best chance of effective treatment.

A report into the plans states that the current early intervention services in the country are fragmented and will not be enough to support an increase in the number of people suffering from the disease in the future.

Speech and language therapy services will also be provided to help sufferers with swallowing problems.

It is hoped that these sessions will help patients to remain in their own homes and lead active lifestyles for as long as possible before getting treatment.

It was revealed last year that the county is facing a dementia time bomb as the number of people diagnosed with the condition is expected to rise by 65pc by 2025.

Due to a combination of factors including people living longer and the post-war baby boom generation reaching retirement age, the figures of those suffering from dementia is increasing nationally.

In Suffolk the problem is even worse, given the higher-than-average older population because of people coming to the county to retire.