Elderly care in West Sussex on agenda today

ELDERLY care will come under the microscope at a meeting of West Sussex County Council’s new health and adult social care select committee today (Wednesday, July 4).

Dr Mike Sadler the county’s executive director of health and social care will deliver a report on the new Proactive Care initiative.

The council claims the new community-based care model will involve health and social care teams working closely together to support people at risk of worsening ill health.

Care at home

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Committee chairman Margaret Whitehead said: “We understand admission to hospital can be a distressing and sometimes unnecessary experience for frail elderly people.

“We want to understand how this scheme will help to keep local people independent and well, and support them in their own homes.

“It is likely we will want to monitor its impact and identify whether any services will change significantly as a result of this programme.”

Harness Block

The committee will also be monitoring a number of changes made by Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust over the past year, focusing particularly on Worthing and Southlands hospitals.

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Dr Philip Barnes, the trust’s medical director, is due to provide a progress report.

It will include an update on community beds, satellite ophthalmology clinics, services for the frail and elderly and the future use of the inpatient Harness Block at Southlands Hospital.

The full agenda for the meeting, starting at 10.30am, is available here or by visiting the West Sussex County Council website.