Dr Carol Sargent, founder of Sargent Group Consulting and leading advocate for dementia-friendly travel, has been appointed leader of the Charnwood Dementia Action Group, a key initiative under the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT).
Carol takes over the leadership from Lindsey Widdowson, a Service Redesign Project Manager at the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT). Lindsey, who is deeply involved in transforming health services across the region, founded the Charnwood Dementia Action Group in response to the Charnwood Health and Wellbeing Partnership’s commitment to prioritising dementia and addressing the needs of carers in the borough.
The Charnwood Health and Wellbeing Partnership, led by Dr. Leslie Borrill, unites local authorities, healthcare providers, and voluntary organisations to address challenges such as dementia, mental health, loneliness, carers’ needs, menopause, and homelessness.
Looking ahead, the Charnwood Dementia Action Group will focus on several priorities to improve dementia care and support across the region. Carol explained:
“We’re working with local GPs and health commissioners to pilot new ways patients can receive their annual dementia review. It’s about making sure people can get the feedback they need in a supportive group environment that enables them to live their best life with a diagnosis of a neurodegenerative disease that is the leading killer in the UK.”
Carol also highlighted the group’s commitment to promoting dementia-inclusive communities and enhancing post-diagnosis support.
“We’re working with Leicestershire’s JOY digital marketplace to improve access and information to encourage local support services to invite the dementia community to join their groups and highlight the range of dementia specific providers our community can access. It’s about making sure people are aware of the range of local choices they have and ensuring they can easily find and access the support they need when they need it.
“For carers, we’re also piloting a text message scheme where they are informed of the post-diagnostic support services.”
The group plans to align with the Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland (LLR) Joint Living Well with Dementia Strategy 2024-2028.
“This strategy is a fantastic framework built around the principles of preventing well, diagnosing well, supporting well, living well, and dying well,” Carol shared. “It’s going to be our roadmap for making a real difference in people’s lives.”
A key priority for Carol is ensuring that the voices of those with lived experience remain central to the group’s initiatives. In 2025, the group will establish two forums: one for individuals diagnosed with dementia and another for their families and friends.
“I’m really excited about these forums,” Carol said. “They’ll help us hear directly from the people we support, so we can focus on what truly matters and empower people to live their best lives alongside dementia.”
Following her attendance at the UK Dementia Congress in Coventry and conversations with NHS England’s Dementia Lead, Dr. Jeremy Isaac, Carol recognised the progressive work being done in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland to adopt integrated, community-focused approaches despite the absence of a national dementia strategy.
“Attending the Congress gave me a lot of hope,” Carol said. “It’s clear that even without a national strategy, our region is taking meaningful steps forward. The integrated efforts across Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland are inspiring, and I’m thrilled to be part of this movement.”
Working closely with the LLR Dementia Programme Board, chaired by Dr. Wafaa Nawaz, Carol aims to fully implement the LLR Joint Living Well with Dementia Strategy.
“2025 presents a real opportunity for initiatives like ours to drive meaningful change. By listening, collaborating, and acting with purpose, I believe we can create a framework that puts the needs of our dementia community first.”
For more information about Dr Carol Sargent and her work, please visit: https://sargentgroup.consulting.