COUNCIL bosses say they have saved an award-winning dementia gateway from the axe in a remodelling of the service which will save £883,000.

After the closure of Roseville Gateway in Coseley earlier this year - there were fears Dudley Council might close one of two further sites but a review of services has resulted in savings and gateways at Brett Young in Halesowen and Crystal in Brierley Hill will remain.

Council chiefs say many of the savings have been achieved though remodelling the way services are delivered.

Councillor Qadar Zada, Dudley's cabinet member for adult social care, said: “Our dementia gateways have received national accolades for the quality of services provided. The services are highly valued by the people who use them and our partners in the NHS.

"I instructed officers to do everything in their power to avoid closing a further gateway. They have worked creatively and delivered saving s from savings on transport and building costs in order to protect the services and keep the remaining two gateways open. We’ve also offered alternative support to everyone who used the service in Roseville to make sure no one has lost out.

“This is just one of the areas in adult social care we have looked to remodel to help save services and jobs in the wake of continued reductions in government funding.

“We know more work is required to identify and diagnose dementia and that in the future more people in the borough will need support. I am delighted we have been able to save the gateways from closure.”

The restructuring of the dementia service forms part of the council’s bid to save £25million over the next three years.