Public consultation on dementia commences in Lancashire

- by Meg Pugh
Public consultation on dementia commences in Lancashire

With more than 17,000 people living with dementia in Lancashire, NHS mental health experts have launched a consultation (3 December to 25 February), which will offer the opportunity for members of the public to have their say on possible changes to specialist dementia services in Lancashire.

Through the consultation process, NHS Lancashire and Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust are aiming to readdress the balance of existing services to deliver enhanced care and better access for the local community. Running for 12 weeks, the consultation will involve 16 public events across the county allowing local residents, healthcare professionals and many other interested parties the chance to hear more about the options currently proposed and express their opinion.

A consultation document provides an overview of the two options, addressing the community and inpatient services for each, as well as the possible advantages and issues involved. The two options, the first which proposes a single site in Blackpool with extensive community services and the second which suggests two sites in Blackpool and Blackburn with reduced community services, are fully explained in the consultation document. Available to download at:
www.lancashirementalhealth.co.uk.

Janet Soo-Chung, chief executive, NHS Lancashire, comments:
“With thousands of people currently living with dementia across Lancashire and with cases expected to rise, the amended services must be able to cope with this future increase within our local community. The consultation will allow us to take into account views before making any decisions. By using the expertise of other mental health experts and engaging with people outside of the NHS, we aim to achieve a consistent high quality network of specialist dementia services for Lancashire.”

There are currently 17,607 people aged 65 and over in Lancashire with dementia and at least 317 people with dementia in Lancashire under the age of 65.  Numbers are expected to increase to 25,611 (by 2025), a projected increase of nearly 50%*. In West Lancashire there are 1365 of people living with dementia**.

Dr Amanda Thornton, clinical director for adult community services at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust added:
“Caring for people with dementia is a priority for the Trust and its partners. The aim is to provide a robust network of care that enables people with dementia to be supported in their usual place of residence for as long as possible. There is a strong evidence base to suggest that this is the most effective way to care for people and that better outcomes and quality of life can be achieved through such an approach.

“A huge amount of investment has already been made into developing community teams to enable people to be cared for in their home environment which means that fewer people with dementia require a hospital admission. Of course specialist hospital beds will be available for those people who require one and the aim of the consultation is to get the views of the public on how services should be arranged and delivered in the future. As our population increases and ages it is important that we plan the delivery of services accordingly to ensure that they are able to meet the needs of local people whilst remaining sustainable. The consultation is a real opportunity for local people to play a part in this process.”

NHS West Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and the other emergent CCGs across NHS Lancashire are fully engaged with the plans and will be responsible for ensuring that the outcome of the consultation is implemented.

Anyone is welcome to come along to a public event, which are taking place locally in:

  • West Lancashire – Tuesday 8 Jan – 1-3pm – Skelmersdale Ecumenical Centre
  • West Lancashire – Tuesday 24 Jan – 6-8pm – Brookside Dementia Resource Centre

The Lancashire mental health team is available to offer further explanation around the dementia consultation on 01254 282128 orlmht@lancashirecare.nhs.uk or you can write to FREEPOST BRLIC NWW7363A, Lancashire Mental Health Team, NHS Blackburn with Darwen, Blackburn, BB1 2BR.

The consultation document and survey are available on the website:
www.lancashirementalhealth.co.uk.

Ends

NOTES TO EDITORS

Media contact
For further information, photos and/or local statistics please contact:

Public consultation: dementia

  • The 12 week public consultation will run from 3 December to 25 February
  • NHS Lancashire is consulting with Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust
  • Public events will take place across the county in January 2013
  • The consultation document details the options and the scale of dementia cases and services in Lancashire
  • More information and the consultation document is available at www.lancashirementalhealth.co.uk
  • The survey is available at www.feedbacksurveys.org.uk/lancsdementia

Dementia (UK and Lancashire)

  • According to the Alzheimer’s Society, there are now 800,000 people with dementia in the UK and there are estimated to be 670,000 family and friends acting as primary carers.
  • The current financial cost of dementia is £23 billion a year to the NHS, local authorities and families and the cost will grow to £27 billion by 2018.
  • 17,607 people aged 65 and over in Lancashire with dementia, and there are currently at least 317 people with dementia in Lancashire under the age of 65.
  • Numbers are expected to increase to 25,611 (by 2025), a projected increase of nearly 50%. The prevalence of the disease increases significantly with age, so the estimated growth in prevalence is particularly connected to the projection of large increases in the 85+ population.
  • There is projected increase across Lancashire with an estimate that increases over the next 15 years range between 30% (Blackpool) and nearly 70% (Chorley) (Source: Mental Health Observatory).

Local statistics

Local figures on the number of cases in Lancashire are available on request from the above media contacts.

*Predicted growth based on 2010 and sourced from the Mental Health Observatory
** Source of estimated prevalence: Dementia UK, Expert Delphi Consensus

Public events

A full list of events taking place in January 2013 across Lancashire is below:

Location Date
(Jan)		 Time Venue
West
Lancashire		 Tuesday 8 1pm – 3pm Skelmersdale Ecumenical Centre, Skelmersdale, WN8 6LU
Hyndburn Thursday 10 1pm – 3pm Accrington Town Hall, Accrington, BB5 1LA
Blackpool Thursday 10 6pm – 8pm The Education Centre, Blackpool Victoria Hospital, Blackpool, FY3 8NR
Darwen Friday 11 10am – 12noon Darwen Library Theatre, Darwen, BB3 3BU
South
Ribble		 Tuesday 15 10am – 12noon Leyland Civic Centre, Leyland, PR25 1DH
Ribble
Valley		 Tuesday 15 1pm – 3pm The Grand, Clitheroe, BB7 2DL
Burnley Wednesday 16 6pm – 8pm Burnley Football Club, 1882 Lounge, Burnley, BB10 4BX
Wyre Thursday 17 1pm – 3pm Wyre Civic Centre, Poulton-le-Fylde, FY6 7PU
Lancaster Friday 18 1pm – 3pm Lancaster Town Hall, Lancaster, LA1 1PJ
Rossendale Monday 21 1pm – 3pm St Mary’s Chambers, Rawtenstall, BB4 6QX
Preston Monday 21 6pm – 8pm Gujarat Centre, Preston, PR1 8JN
Blackburn Thursday 24 1pm – 3pm Blackburn Central Library, Blackburn, BB2 1AG
West
Lancashire		 Thursday 24 6pm – 8pm Brookside, Dementia Resource Centre, Ormskirk, L39 3BH
Fylde Friday 25 10am – 12noon Kirkham Community Centre, Kirkham, PR4 2AN
Pendle Monday 28 10am – 12noon Training 2000, Conference Centre, Nelson, BB9 9AR
Chorley Monday 28 1pm – 3pm Chorley Town Hall, Chorley, PR7 1DP