THURSDAY, 11 JANUARY, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New model for inpatient care agreed for Angus

The Integration Joint Board (IJB) for Angus Health and Social Care Partnership agreed to move forward with plans to redesign how inpatient care will be delivered across Angus at its meeting yesterday (Wednesday, 10 January).

Over the past 12 months, Angus Health and Social Care Partnership has been reviewing key health and social care services, namely the provision of care homes, the future plans for minor injury and illness and out of hours services and the delivery of inpatient care across Angus.

The IJB heard about the proposed Angus Care Model which brings together the conclusions of all three reviews and takes into account the interdependencies of the three aspects of health and social care in plans to deliver health and care services in an integrated manner.

Clinical Director Dr Alison Clement outlined to IJB members the need for services to be redesigned and described three models for how inpatient beds could be delivered across Angus.

Members agreed on a model which will result in a reduction in the number of inpatient beds required across Angus. Inpatient care for stroke, Psychiatry of Old Age, Medicine for the Elderly, and palliative care services will be delivered from Stracathro Hospital, Whitehills Health & Community Care Centre in Forfar and Arbroath Infirmary. These inpatient beds will be supplemented by a minimum of three care home beds to support intermediate and palliative care in North East Angus and will build on services already available in Angus. The plans for intermediate care will be developed in partnership with local clinicians.

Under the new plans, which will be developed over the coming months, inpatient care will not be delivered from Brechin Infirmary, which has been non-operational since October 2015 or from Montrose Infirmary where the environment is no longer suitable for the delivery of modern healthcare.

Dr Clement said, “The proposed inpatient bed model, developed by clinicians in partnership with staff and stakeholders, will provide sustainable, safe and effective person-centred care for the future.

“We heard from those who attended our public events that they understand the case for change and that we must use our resources in the most efficient way. We are confident that the new model will deliver the care that the people of Angus need and will help us to support more people in their homes and in their communities, which is what they have told us they want.

“These changes to how inpatient care is delivered are dependent on ensuring our Enhanced Community Service is working well across all localities in Angus and making sure we have suitable facilities and environments of care. We will continue to work towards this and will involve all of our stakeholders as our plans develop.”

Dr Clement told the Board that the model would allow staff to share knowledge and skills and would provide improved care environments. The Board heard from Consultant Geriatrician Dr Douglas Lowdon who felt the agreed model would best support all four Angus localities. Dr Lowdon also confirmed he was confident that the new model delivered enough inpatient beds in Angus to cope with the demands of winter pressures.

Feedback from public conversations held over the past few months about future plans was also shared with Board members to help inform their decision-making.

Having heard the view of local clinicians, the IJB approved the development of a preferred model for inpatient bed configuration and were encouraged by the potential for improvement.

It was noted that since the preferred option would deliver services from the Mulberry Ward in the Susan Carnegie Centre at Stracathro, the option is dependent on the outcome of the Mental Health and Learning Disability Services Transformation Programme, which is being decided by the Perth & Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership on 26 January.

The Board heard that some local GPs had questions about access to community beds, which will be managed by consultants under the new model. GPs had also requested to be involved in plans for new intermediate care home beds in North East Angus. A commitment was given to continue to develop local plans with GPs, and to ensure patient care is managed jointly with consultant colleagues.

Speaking about the Angus Care Model, Vicky Irons, Chief Officer for Angus Health and Social Care Partnership, said, “The Partnership is focused on delivering an approach to integrated health and social care that has a much greater emphasis on prevention, early intervention, self-management, supporting people in their own homes and communities and less dependence on hospitals and care homes.

“We are currently not using our resources in the most effective way. There are more hospital beds than we need in older buildings that are not fit for the delivery of modern healthcare. Our review of inpatient beds revealed that on average each day there were 37 inpatient beds across Angus lying unoccupied – that’s 29% of our inpatient beds.

“Health and care services across the country are facing staffing challenges and Angus is no different. For these reasons, we need to redesign how our services are delivered to continue to provide efficient health and care services for our communities. The Angus Care Model, which is a two to three year plan, will be developed and implemented over the coming months, will allow us to do this.”

Contact:
Gaynyr Dickson
NHS Tayside Communications
01382 424138
gaynyr.dickson@nhs.net

Notes to editors:

The IJB meeting papers can be found on the Angus Council website