NHS Borders chiefs have recorded regular increases in the number of patients being diagnosed with dementia.

But they were among the worst in the country for providing post-diagnostic support services.

The most recent figures available show that 467 Borders were diagnosed with some form of dementia during 2016/17.

But only 173 (37 percent) were given much-needed support - well down on the Scottish average of 47 percent.

Improvements are on the horizon, though, as changes in the way post-diagnosis services are delivered are being implemented.

A spokeswoman for NHS Borders told us: "The Mental Health Older Adults Service is currently working on a redesign of how post diagnostic support is delivered.

"It is our aim to deliver post diagnostic support that is tailored to the individual needs of our patients.

"We have commenced work with a range of stakeholders, testing how we continue to best meet the needs of people with dementia and their families and carers in the Scottish Borders."

Figures released by Information Services Division show that there were 446 new cases of dementia in the Borders during 2014/15.

And the following year there were 456.

The NHS Borders spokeswoman explained that recent changes make data comparisons for post-diagnostic services difficult.

She added: "We have introduced a new IT system which has changed the way that we record and report data and makes reliable comparisons to past performance more difficult.

"We continue to work with colleagues at Information Services Division to more accurately capture and report on the work that we are doing.”