Agenda item

Report by Maggie Rae, Corporate Director

Councillor Keith Humphries presented a report which updated Cabinet on the Wiltshire vision for specialist dementia hospital care. He explained that the Council had been working hard to raise awareness of dementia. He referred to Cabinet’s previous consideration of the subject in the development of the Dementia Strategy. Work had taken place with town and parish councils to introduce dementia friendly towns and parishes. The Council had also worked to include dementia into the Safe Places initiative.

Although specialist dementia hospital care was commissioned by Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), it was acknowledged that it was only one part of the dementia pathway, as outlined in the Wiltshire Dementia Strategy. The Strategy was jointly owned by Wiltshire Council and Wiltshire CCG as commissioning organisations. Furthermore, it was the role of Wiltshire Council to act as a community leader in consultation processes that affected its local communities and population. For these reasons, Wiltshire Council was acting as a partner with Wiltshire CCG, supporting them through their public consultation, pending approval from Cabinet.

Cabinet was therefore asked for its approval to proceed to formal consultation on the future of specialist dementia hospital care in Wiltshire.

Councillor Humphries invited Dr Celia Grummitt – GP Dementia Lead and Dr Ted Wilson – Community and Long-term Lead from the CCG to address Cabinet on the CCG’s proposals.

They outlined the proposals contained in the Specialist Dementia Hospital Care consultation document, details of which were presented. 

The Dementia Strategy concentrated efforts to provide support for dementia patients and their carers mainly in their own homes. The proposals now before Cabinet were in relation to patients who required more specialist support and admission to a specialist dementia hospital during a severe phase of their illness to ensure they were kept safe and well. The consultation document also sought views on the future permanent location of

specialist dementia hospital care in Wiltshire, with support from the Council.

Three options for the future provision of countywide specialist dementia hospital care in Wiltshire had been developed and included in the consultation document as follows: 

Option 1: Undertake renovation/improvement work to Charter

House, Trowbridge and move all specialist dementia hospital care

from Amblescroft South, Salisbury to Trowbridge;

Option 2: Undertake renovation/improvement work to Avebury ward

at Green Lane Hospital in Devizes and move all specialist dementia

hospital care from Amblescroft South, Salisbury to Devizes or

Option 3: Formalise the existing provision and location of services

at Amblescroft South, at Fountain Way in Salisbury.

Maggie Rae, Corporate Director emphasised that this was about the care pathway and the right outcomes for people with advanced dementia. This was aimed at the smaller group who needed extra specialist care to improve their physical as well as mental health and return them back to their communities. 

Councillor Christine Crisp, chairman of the Health Select Committee confirmed that her Committee would be happy to participate in the consultation process. It was noted that the Committee had provided a valuable contribution to this area of work.

Councillor Humphries thanked all those present for their views and contributions and it was;

Resolved:

That Cabinet notes the recommendations and gives approval to proceed to formal consultation on the options developed for the future provision of specialist dementia hospital care in Wiltshire.

Reason for decision:

To ensure that people with dementia have access, when required, to specialist dementia hospital care that is fit for purpose and conforms to best practice standards.