'A proud moment for us': Co. Antrim firm secures landmark health contract in England as dementia rates continue to rise

A Co Antrim-based healthcare company has secured a major contract to deliver a large-scale dementia training programme for frontline staff across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

6D Dementia, based in Portrush, will provide specialist training to 500 health and social care staff working across hospitals, community services, local authorities and the voluntary sector.

The programme has been commissioned by NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board, which serves a population of more than one million people.

The contract comes amid rapidly rising dementia rates across the UK, with around 982,000 people currently living with the condition — a figure expected to exceed one million by 2030 and reach 1.4 million by 2040. The cost to society, estimated at £25 billion in 2021, is projected to rise significantly in the coming years.

Founded in 2021 by consultant clinical psychologist Dr Frances Duffy, 6D Dementia has quickly established itself as a leader in dementia care innovation. The company is one of only four selected for the Alzheimer's Society Accelerator Programme and was recently named among 16 global finalists in the Isle of Man Innovation Challenge 2026.

Dr Duffy, a recognised expert in dementia care, has contributed to national policy and best practice guidance, including work with the Public Health Agency and the British Psychological Society. She also serves on national committees and is an NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Fellow.

Speaking about the contract, Dr Duffy said it represents a significant milestone for both the company and Northern Ireland’s health innovation sector.

“As a business, our priorities align with those of the NHS Long Term Plan and the Northern Ireland Reset Plan, meaning our model is built on transitioning from sickness to prevention, from hospital to community, and from analogue to digital,” she explained.

“I believe this contract for 6D Dementia marks a proud moment for us as a company and for Northern Ireland’s health innovation sector, as it reinforces our ability to meet those priorities while developing commercially scalable, world-class, transformational healthcare solutions for use at home and for export.

“As a society we are facing rapidly rising dementia rates, so it is hugely significant for people living in the area that the ICB has taken the lead and chosen to invest in specialist training that is practical, accessible, and designed to make a real difference to families and frontline staff alike. Their decision to invest in our specialist training is a powerful endorsement of what 6D Dementia has built, and of its value in delivering measurable outcomes, cost savings for stretched health systems, better support for staff and carers, and, most importantly, real dignity for people living with dementia.”

6D Dementia’s training is grounded in established psychological and dementia-care evidence, alongside years of frontline clinical experience from Dr. Duffy. It seeks to improve the quality of life for people living with dementia and to ease pressure on health and social care budgets by supporting reductions in crisis, escalation, and unnecessary hospital admissions and more appropriate use of antipsychotic medication.

Its mix of online modules, care planning tools, and face-to-face sessions will help staff better understand the progression of dementia, support people experiencing distress, and improve the consistency and quality of care. The approach also aims to reduce stress for carers and improve staff wellbeing and retention.

David Moss, locality director at BNSSG ICB, added: “We are delighted to commission dementia training of this type and on this scale. This has only been possible because of the strong relationships and close working between our locality partnerships: the teams of NHS staff, local councils, voluntary organisations and community groups who work side‑by‑side every day. Their shared commitment to supporting people living with dementia means we can invest in specialist training that reflects real local needs and helps improve care where it matters most.

“Investing in specialist dementia training is a key part of our Joint Forward Plan, as we aim to ensure that people living with dementia, their families, and NHS staff all benefit from the latest thinking in dementia care. This new training programme will help our frontline teams build greater understanding and improve communication. It will help them respond more effectively to the complex needs of those affected, so that people living with dementia are supported by people with the kinds of skills and compassion that can make a real difference to them every day.”

Looking ahead, 6D Dementia is also planning to expand its offering with a dedicated training programme aimed at supporting families and loved ones of people living with dementia.