Bridport: Meeting hears how NHS must adapt to suit aging population (From Thisisdorset)

Bridport: Meeting hears how NHS must adapt to suit aging population

10:00am Saturday 11th February 2012 in Latest By Rene Gerryts

THE NHS must adapt to provide for an ageing population that is living longer, say health leaders.

That was the message a panel of executives from the NHS delivered at a public meeting at Bridport Arts Centre.

The meeting was also a chance for Chris Ricketts, NHS public health team leader, to explain what the proposed changes to the NHS structure mean.

The meeting was billed as a ‘have your say’ session, but members of the public were warned it was not a meeting to talk about current changes proposed at Bridport Hospital – that is reserved for a meeting on February 10.

John Morton, director of joint commissioning at NHS Dorset made brief references to the thinking behind the changes.

He said: “We are living longer. There is less sudden death and closer to 40 per cent fewer deaths from heart attacks.

“People are dying more from chronic long-term illness – that is a significant change in healthcare provision.

“Fewer people will die in hospitals so we need to shift the pattern of care from hospitals to homes or closer to home.”

He said there was to be a £4.7million investment in community health services that would go in part towards district nurses being available seven days a week and up to 10pm.

There were those at the meeting who were concerned there would not be enough community cover.

Bridport Town Councillor Phil Lathey, said: “I work for the ambulance service and we find there’s absolutely no chance whatsoever getting district nurses out on a Friday at 10pm. The same with the mental health services.

“The crisis response teams for this end of the county at the moment are very patchy and to some extent they are non-existent especially at weekends.”

Sally O’Donnell, director of community hospitals Dorset Healthcare University Foundation Trust said: “You are quite right those services are much thinner overnight but we are operating seven days a week and that is an improvement. As we develop these services we will continue to look at that.

“If it is an issue, we will be looking at how to make the best use of those resources and centre them on when they are of the most value.”

Elderly anxious about the future

JILL Lloyd, an NHS worker for 45 years, said there was an enormous amount of anxiety among older people about community social care.

She said: “There is isolation, loneliness, need and care in a lot of houses in Bridport.”

Dr Blair Millar said the medical profession echoed that anxiety.

He said he agreed to be on the commissioning group because he wanted any changes to happen with the consent of the people of Bridport.

John Morton, director of joint commissiing NHS Dorset, added the health budget was relatively protected from cuts that were affecting social services provided by local authorities.

Coun Ros Kayes said: “I am concerned we are not considering 24-hour care. Care in the community costs more. If we are putting those facilities out into the community it is not good enough to say it stops at 10pm.”

Marion Wrighton representing Chancery House said people coming home from hospital desperately needed day care centres.