News
Supporting and caring for those with young onset dementia
Whilst most people develop dementia in their older years, it can affect younger people too.
Young onset dementia is when symptoms develop before the age of 65 and there are an estimated 70,000 sufferers in the UK.
At Oxleas, we’re proud to be developing specialist, collaborative support for people living with young onset dementia and their families.
Leading this inspirational work is our award-winning Young Onset Dementia Nurse, Kelly Mills.
Kelly was revealed as the winner of our Governors’ Award at the Recognition Awards 2025 for her dedication, compassion and expertise in supporting patients and families, which has been transformative.
Over the past two years, Kelly and her team have:
- Improved awareness and supported pathways with targeted project work
- Listened to those with lived experience, carers and clinicians to shape services
- Established a steering group to strengthen cross-directorate collaboration
- Developed a Children and Young People pathway to identify young carers
- Provided connection and peer support through a carers group
- Delivered specialist workshops for sufferers
- Launched a Young Onset Dementia Cognitive Stimulation Therapy course in partnership with Greenwich Memory Service
The team estimate that around 200 people under the age of 65 have received a diagnosis of young onset dementia in Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich over the past five years.
Kelly said:
We know that young onset dementia brings unique challenges, but also opportunities for tailored, compassionate and creative support. Through our work, we’re continuing to listen, learn and lead the way in providing care that truly meets the needs of younger people living with dementia and those who love them.
Please do get in touch if you would like to join the steering group or would like more information about the project: oxl-tr.yod.service@nhs.net
Media enquiries
The communications team provides a point of contact for journalists to respond to all media enquiries.
We are happy to help journalists represent the trust accurately, so please do get in touch to ensure your facts and information are up-to-date before publishing your story.
Our media team is responsible for:
- Responding to media queries
- Arranging interviews with our nationally and internationally renowned experts who can talk about some of the trust’s specialist topics
For all media enquiries Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, please email oxl-tr.communications@nhs.net where a member of the team will review and action your request.
If you have an urgent enquiry outside of office hours or at the weekend, please contact our director on call via the Bracton Centre switchboard on 01322 294300.
Filming and photography requests
We receive documentary, location and broadcast filming requests on a regular basis – we consider all proposals on an individual basis and will try to accommodate proposals where possible, if appropriate.
No photography or filming is permitted without prior arrangement and agreement. Our patients always come first and we have a duty to protect their safety and confidentiality. Anyone found filming or taking photographs on the trust premises without the permission of the trust’s communications team will be asked to leave by the security department and may face prosecution.
Unless agreed otherwise, film crews and photographers must be accompanied by a member of the Communications Team at all times.
Contact: oxl-tr.communications@nhs.net
