(a)   a review of the evidence relating to older people’s mental health was undertaken in the summer of 2011. The review highlighted the significant and increasing issues in older people’s mental health, including dementia, and commissioners had requested that providers confirm how they would redirect resources to reflect increasing demand;

(b)   there would be a reduction in bed numbers which would be supported by work to stop people being admitted unnecessarily and improvements to discharge.  The inpatient units at Plympton would relocate onto a single site at Mount Gould alongside community staff. Initially there would be a reduction in beds from 18 beds per ward to 15 beds per ward;

(c)    the changes to inpatient services would be supported by two clear functional and dementia pathways involving inpatients and community teams working in an improved model of service delivery;

(d)   a lean and efficient Memory Service would be further developed including a reduction in waiting time and caseload.  The service would move towards a time limited period of assessment, diagnosis, treatment and post diagnostic support. There would be a six month follow up appointment for patients prior to discharge back to GP. Difficulties encountered by patients and carers would be assessed by support from the dementia community team and the patient reintegrated into active mental health care at a level appropriate to care need.  It was believed that this would reduce the current caseload by approximately 33 per cent.

(e)   following an extensive review it was found that 18 inpatient beds were no longer required and the reduction in beds would be supported by robust community teams across localities;

(f)     Edgcumbe ward at Mount Gould Hospital would be redesigned to accommodate the dementia group. Equipment such as sensory mattresses would be procured and directives on single sex accommodation would be adhered to;

(g)   the Memory Service would assess a patient within four weeks following referral. The Memory Service carried out assessments in the patient’s own home and could make further referrals to social care. There was currently an 18 week wait for a consultant review.

(h)   sensory mattresses were being procured as cot sides were not appropriate for dementia patients;

(i)     there were three substantive consultant posts which were filled and making good progress against targets;

(a)   there was a developing problem of alcohol related dementia, plans to tackle the problem would be developed through partners and work was ongoing.

(1)   the city council and partners would develop an approach to communicating key dementia support messages to their staff and a progress report would be provided at a future meeting of the panel;

(2)   the cross agency work on alcohol related dementia was to be welcomed and the outcome of the work was expected to be reflected in the development of the mental health strategy and services;

(3)   the older peoples mental health service redesign was supported by the panel.