The Future for Health in Sidmouth: health in Budleigh

Mark McGlade, who is professionally involved in dementia care, spoke on several issues at the Futures Forum meeting on health:

Mark McGlade [Chair of the Budleigh PPG; Member of the WEB Health & Social Care Team; Board Member of the DCC Devon Dementia Care & Support Partnership; Managing Director of Home Instead Senior Care, Budleigh] stated that 25% of patients at the RD&E Hospital suffer from dementia and yet their home-care is often unclear at discharge – however, the new CCG should enable the NHS and Social Services to work together, with the nationwide Dementia-Friendly towns campaign gathering pace following Torbay in 2009 and the example of Budleigh hospital becoming a a ‘Community Hub’ with an emphasis on well-being.

Mark McGlade concluded by saying that the CCGs presented an opportunity to build services; it was clear that the CCG and Commissioners  wanted to reach out to the patient groups and engage on how to spend public funds.

Futures Forum: The Future for Heath in Sidmouth: event Tuesday 26th November: agenda 

Here is a cutting from the Express Journal of 26th September:

Home - Exmouth Journal 

See also:
Futures Forum: Torbay: Dementia-friendly town... and the world: UK to host G8 Dementia Summit on 11th December
Futures Forum: Sidmouth: Dementia-friendly town... or 'God's waiting room'...
Futures Forum: Caring for the elderly: providing care at home

Here is the latest from 11th November about plans to create a 'health hub' around the cottage hospital:

Doctors move ahead with hospital health hub plan

Sean KeywoodMonday, November 11, 2013 

NHS bosses have agreed to go ahead with plans to turn Budleigh Salterton Hospital into a community health hub.

The deal should secure the hospital’s future – however, it has been confirmed it will lose its inpatient beds and stroke unit as a result.

An agreement has been signed between the League of Friends of Budleigh Salterton Hospital, Northern, Eastern and Western Clinical Commissioning Group (NEW Devon CCG) and the Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust (NDHT) to back the scheme in principle, and ensure the project gets off the ground next year.

As part of the agreement, NDHT has offered to cover a significant proportion of the costs, and is offering professional facilities support, while the League of Friends will provide financial support where possible.

Services at the new hub could include added physiotherapy, podiatry, hospice services and audiology, specialist healthcare for elderly patients, a respite centre and services run in partnership with charities such as Age Concern and the Alzheimer’s Society.

However, the hospital’s community and stroke beds will be moving to Exmouth Hospital, meaning inpatient services with 24-hour beds will end.

League of Friends chairman Dr David Evans said: “This is a great sadness for the League of Friends and the community locally as one of our priorities has always been the preservation of the heritage of our community hospital. That is why the League of Friends together with NEW Devon CCG and NDHT have worked so hard during the last 18 months, to present an alternative use for the hospital that will meet the changing needs of our community into the future. The way modern medical care is delivered has changed dramatically over the last 20 years. There have been difficulties in recruiting staff for smaller units and maintaining their clinical skills and, of course, severe financial pressures. Having a larger unit based at Exmouth Community Hospital will overcome some of these difficulties. It is reassuring, however, that all the transferred [inpatient] beds will remain under the jurisdiction of Budleigh Salterton doctors.”

Local GP and vice-chairman with the local area of the CCG Dr Rick Mejzner said: “As a CCG, we are committed to developing health services in Budleigh Salterton which meet the changing needs of the population. We want to diversify the use of the hospital and create a hub that is well used, provides a mixture of healthcare and social services for all ages and is sustainable.”

There will now be a consultation programme with local residents and, as part of this, the League of Friends is holding a coffee morning at the Public Hall on November 16, at 10am, where visitors can have their say.

Doctors move ahead with hospital health hub plan - News - Exmouth Journal 

And the same story from a very useful source of information on health, Healthwatch Devon:

Local people in Budleigh Salterton asked for their opinion on new town health and wellbeing hub

Another story from 2nd December about how
"The NHS is pushing ahead with plans to turn the hospital into a community health hub, which would offer a range of services including specialist care for the elderly..."

Council plans for hospital transport - News - Exmouth Journal

See also:
Budleigh Salterton Hospital « Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust NDHT
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