To receive an update in relation to Fan Gorau and Dementia Home Treatment – Adrian Osbourne, Powys teaching Health Board.
Minutes:
Members welcomed Joy Garfitt, Assistant Director: Mental Health Services, Powys teaching Health Board to the meeting to provide an update in relation to Fan Gorau Unit, Newtown and Dementia Home Treatment. During discussions particular reference was made to:
a. Fan Gorau Unit, Newtown (8 Bedded Unit) – in June 2016 the site had been closed on the grounds of service safety. There are requirements that apply to operating the site and could not be met due to staff vacancies. Repeated recruitment campaigns had failed in attracting candidates to positions that are needed in order to operate the site
b. Alternative / Community Provision (Dementia and Mental Health Services) – the positon with regard to the above (Fan Gorau Unit being unable to operate) had resulted in a new approach having been adopted. The approach had been to provide a community focused service where treatment and support had been provided at the home. This had proven to be a much better way of providing the services and been praised by patients and their carers. Operating this way had also reduced the need for hospital admissions
c. Moving Forward (Consultations) – given the success of the community focused approach it had been agreed to consult on operating this way. There had been a very thorough consultation exercise and a range of user groups, patient groups, family and carer representatives and the wider community had been invited to comment. The position had been accepted and welcomed, the only area of concern had been access to hospital services should the need arise. Impatient units were either over the border in England or towards the very south of the county. While the position was not ideal it was a best fix given the positioning of services. The need to provide services closer to home and within the shire would be at the forefront of future considerations. The proposal that would be put to the Powys in order to build on the positive approach
d. Fan Gorau Unit, Newtown – should the proposal to operate a Dementia Home Treatment Team be accepted the site which had been used for providing dementia care would be utilised by the Powys teaching Health Board in a different way. Members would welcome the site being used as opposed to being left empty and falling into disrepair
e. Recruitment – unlike operating a unit arrangement i.e. Fan Gorau there had been significant interest in positions that would support the community based approach
f. Carers – members view support for carers as very important and were reminded that the Council provide services which could be discussed by calling Powys People Direct (the Powys social care number) tel. 01597 827666. Members were urged to share contact information with those caring for others
g. Dementia/Mental Health Services Consultation – a member expressed concern regarding sessions held in the south of Powys to discuss the dementia and mental health services. It was reported that events would be held throughout Powys and not just in the south
Members thanked Joy for her update and welcomed being kept informed.
Supporting documents: