Younger people who suffer from dementia frequently fall through the net. This paper is welcomed within the College and strongly supported by the Alzheimer's Society.

An incremental approach is advocated with the appointment of two key players; at the commissioning level (health authority/primary care groups or their equivalent) a named person responsible for planning and a clinician to act as a focus for referrals, initially two consultant sessions. An old age psychiatrist is well placed to undertake the clinical role.

After these appointments have been made the rudiments of the local service is created. At all stages coordination and networking with people already involved with younger people with dementia is important while the composition and evolution of the new service will depend on existing local services and facilities.

As implementation is incremental an immediate start can be made. These early developments will be reviewed by the Faculty of Old Age Psychiatry and the Alzheimer's Society in 2002 to provide data for a revised document.