Care for the elderly shift to the home

One of the key projects of NHS Coastal West Sussex, which was formed in April, is proactive care.

The aim is to provide care in the community for the frail, elderly and people living with long-term conditions, rather than admitting them to hospital.

Dr Kate Armstrong, clinical chief officer, said: “The whole thrust of our services is to bring them into the community.”

Speaking at the Clinical Commissioning Group meeting in Steyning, she said self care was a building block of how they would go about proactive care.

“It is something we are absolutely passionate about,” she added. “Self care needs to be part of every single plan that we bring to the governing body. Self care is at the heart of each one of our plans.”

She said it was vital patients understood how to care for themselves.

The whole system of care is being transformed, with the new infrastructure set to be in place by 2018.

Dermatology services would also be shifting to care in the community, likely to be offered at doctor’s surgeries rather than hospitals.

Dr Su Stone said: “We want enough locations around the county so that patients don’t have to travel very far.”

The process was at the early stages, she added.