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MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATION UNDERWAY
A MONTH-LONG consultation is underway with carers and others concerned with the mental health of older people in Liverpool.
The city council is working in partnership with health and care agencies to draw up a four-year action plan.
The aim of the is to develop a clear vision for local health and social services, at a time when more people are living longer and are likely to need access to high quality mental health services.
Councillor Flo Clucas, Executive Member for Social Care, said:- "People in Liverpool are living longer than ever before, but with age arrives an increased likelihood of memory problems.
It is vitally important that we provide the right type of care for people with mental health problems and their carers, and this consultation is an opportunity for people to tell us what the
Statistics show that men aged 65 can now expect to live 18 months longer than those who were 65 a decade ago, while women aged 65 can expect to live a year longer than they did 10 years ago.
However one in twenty people over 65 have some degree of memory problem
and over the age of 80 one in five people are affected by dementia.
One in seven of over 65s suffer from depression and it is even more common in people in care homes or with physical health problems. Some older people can develop severe mental illness, such as psychosis, where they lose touch with reality."
Older people's manager for Mersey Care NHS Trust, Barry Owen said:- "Liverpool has a population of around 80,000 over the age of 65 and Mersey Care looks after 1,500 elderly patients with mental health needs.
We want to hear from as many people as possible who have an interest in caring for older people with mental health needs to influence this draft strategy, which will become the model for services for the next four years."
Included in the 'Joint Agency Strategy for Older People with Mental Health Needs Living in Liverpool' are 10 'strategic change initiatives' to ensure there is clear and coherent direction for the development older person's mental health services. At the heart of the consultation is feedback from families and
carers.
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Waterloo looking to overpower Bristol
ON Sunday 28 November all
Waterloo Rugby Club fans’ should diaries! Waterloo will face Bristol Shoguns in the fifth round of the Powergen Cup, and there’s a lot at stake. It will be the first time the two teams have met since Waterloo suffered a dramatic defeat at Twickenham in the Powergen Shield final in April when they lost 53-24, and the Northerners are looking to restore their honour.
Set to be a nail-biter, the match begins at 2:30pm. Ticket booking details are available on the clubs website www.waterloorugby.com, where fans can also contact their favourite players. Family tickets are on sale for £12.00 which allows entry for two adults and up to three children. The bars will be open from 5:30pm to allow for a quick tipple, as whatever the outcome of the match, there will be reason to celebrate a thrilling show of rugby.
Hospital Trust wins third award for exceptional A&E performance
SOUTHPORT and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust has been awarded £100,000 extra
capital to develop services across the hospital.
"We have been able to achieve this target by a combination of estimating
expected patient numbers, improved admissions processes and investing in a
24-hour bed management system to monitor bed availability." commented Jayne
Norbury, modern matron for A&E. "In addition to these improvements to our
systems we have employed emergency nursing practitioners for minor injuries
who 'see-and-treat' patients from start to finish, set up dedicated assessment beds within the observation ward and worked closely with our
partners in the PCTs and local ambulance trusts."
Janette Brookes, Director of Specialist and Emergency Services added,
"I would like to thank all our staff working in A&E for their hard work in
meeting this target. It is a great achievement, which enables us to offer
an effective and efficient service to the patients. Improved access to
patient centred emergency care cannot be delivered and sustained without the
co-operation and dedication of all involved in emergency care. I am sure
with the continued support of the staff we will be able to meet the next
target in three months time."
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