DISTE are a specialist dementia service in east Suffolk, working with people with dementia (or suspected dementia) and their families in the event of a dementia related crisis, to avoid acute hospital admission.

Such a crisis may involve either a recent change in behaviour that is cause for concern, or carers needing more support to manage their caring role to prevent care breakdown, either of which may otherwise result in an unnecessary hospital admission.

DISTE can offer, in liaison with other agencies where required, support to enable a timely discharge from hospital.

DISTE can also provide signposting, advice and information to enable access to appropriate local support services.

For referrals, advice and/ or signposting, telephone us on 01473 891733.

We recommend that for referrals from family / carers, the GP is contacted in the first instance.  They will establish if there is physical cause for the presenting problem, consider treatment and refer to us, if appropriate.

Any professionals can refer to DISTE and acute hospital can refer to DISTE for support on discharge, if required.

We also work closely with REACT (Reactive Emergency Assessment Community Team). If you are under the care of REACT, or referred to them by other professionals, REACT may refer you on to DISTE, if appropriate.

​We aim to respond to all referrals within one working day. This will initially be by telephone or a home visit.

Visits are arranged for mutually convenient times. Where appropriate we refer you on to and work closely with other services and organisations to ensure your needs are met, for example GPs, social workers and so on.

Jackson House, 86 Sandy Hill Lane, Ipswich IP3 0NA.

We do not hold clinics or appointments on site. All face to face contact is through home visits arranged with the service user and/or their family / carers.

You can call us on 01473 891733. This number is staffed between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday (except bank holidays).

An answerphone is available outside of these hours and we will call you back the next working day.

We provide intensive support and advice in relation to:

• Dementia – all types
• Suspected dementia
• Delirium on top of dementia.

We offer advice and information on dementia and delirium to carers, and we signpost to other organisations that can help you care for someone with a dementia. ​

Lisa Harding 

Please call DISTE within our working hours or your GP outside of our working hours.

The Crisis Resolution Team is also available out of hours on 0300 123 2425.