SEVERAL dementia services will be brought together under one banner as part of a major shake-up in care.

The Dementia Wellbeing Service, which starts in April, will offer specialist advisers, cafes, monthly meetings and one-to-one support for younger patients.

Age UK Herefordshire and Worcestershire and Onside Advocacy have won the joint council and NHS contract to run the service, which means they will take over the cafes and meetings previously run by Alzheimer's Society.

Health bosses said funding has not been cut from the services and offered reassurances to those who have concerns about the changes.

However, Lynn Denham, chair of Worcester Dementia Action Alliance (DAA), said: "The fact I don't understand what's going on from April is a problem, as chair of the DAA.

"People supporting and working with individuals living with dementia are confused as to what the current state of services is and who their contacts will be from April 1.

"Staff on the Dementia Advice Service don't know their personal job future, they have all that expertise. Staff are concerned."

However, South Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said there has been no reduction in funding for the dementia services.

The CCG added that it plans to communicate the changes 'in a controlled way' to avoid confusion to staff, clients, carers, volunteers and others.

Carole Cumino, chief executive of Worcestershire Association of Carers, welcomed the new service as it places a greater emphasis on post-diagnosis care.

However, she also warned that the amount of funding for dementia services is not expected to keep up with the increasing demand.

Carol Rowley, a dementia and mental health transformation manager for Worcestershire's CCGs, said: “We are very excited to be working with Age UK Herefordshire and Worcestershire to provide a comprehensive post-diagnostic service for people in Worcestershire, which adopts an integrated approach to providing the right support at the right time for people with a diagnosis of dementia and their carers.

"The pathway will include peer support (cafes) drop in centres, and a dementia wellbeing service and will provide a seamless transition for existing service users and increased opportunities to engage and shape the services going forward.

“We would like to reassure people that the new service has been developed to enhance the wellbeing and improve the experience of people who have been diagnosed with dementia and their family and carers.”

Members of the Dementia Advice Service are having to reapply for their jobs, a source said.