A NURSING service that helps some of Bolton’s most vulnerable people is to be scrapped.

The Admiral Nurses specialise in looking after people with dementia and their carers.

Health chiefs have blamed spending cuts but have insisted support will still be available for those who need it.

Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust runs the Admiral Nurses service in Bolton.

Beverley Humphrey, chief executive, said: “We have had to make some financially difficult decisions and one of these is to disestablish our current team of Admiral Nurses.

“I want to be absolutely clear this will not leave carers in Bolton without any support.

“Although we understand this move may seem like we are decreasing support to carers, this could not be further from the truth.”

Bolton has three Admiral Nurses.

Jim Swift, aged 64, of Hough Fold Way, Harwood, cares for his wife Jan, aged 67, who has Alzheimer’s.

He said: “I am furious, we have had an Admiral Nurse for six years and the service is going to be taken away.

“The practical help from someone who is experienced is vital and our nurse has been my rock when things have got tough.

“I’d like them to think again, dementia needs specialist help and the Admiral Nurses are irreplaceable.”

Lynn Dobson, chair of Bolton Dementia Support Group, said: “The Admiral Nurses will be very much missed, people really do benefit from their help.

“We need specialist support around dementia.”

Health bosses say the Admiral Nurses will be replaced with a new service, which will provide “widereaching support to all carers — not just those who support people with dementia”.

● Admiral Nurses are named after Joseph Levy who had vascular dementia and was known as Admiral Joe because of his keen interest in sailing.