Health chief fears saving dementia ward ‘would do more harm than good’

Uncategorised • 28th May 2014

A top health chief has fears a dementia ward at Solihull Hospital would do patients ‘more harm than good’ if it is kept running long term.

Several petitions have been launched to save Ward 10 from closure after health bosses only provided enough funding for the next few months, insisting community care is more beneficial.

Dr Patrick Brooke, chief officer of Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group – the body behind the running of health services in the borough – made the comments ahead of the launch of a new dementia strategy for Birmingham and Solihull.

“I understand how popular Ward 10 is with people but looking at the bigger picture, I am anxious that in the long term, it could do patients more harm than good,” he said.

The dementia ward, which has 20 beds and provides specialist care for patients, is still open with ongoing discussions taking place on the best way to manage it.

Dr Brooke said the aim is to make the whole of Solihull Hospital ‘dementia friendly’ with dementia patients eventually being cared for in the community or in their own homes.

“Solihull Hospital has already started making strides in this area, with the aim of becoming completely dementia friendly,” Dr Brooke added.

“Hospital is not the best place for dementia sufferers to be in.

“Once they have received their treatment, the best thing for them is to be moved out of the hospital and into a rehabilitation environment.

“Keeping these patients in hospital long term is not a good thing.”

Part of the dementia strategy, which was launched last week, will see more facilities introduced into the community for dementia sufferers.

The facilities, some of which have already set up in Solihull, include dementia cafes, intermediate care beds in care homes and day rooms being introduced into Solihull Hospital.

Solihull Lodge residents Maureen and Desmond Clarke also helped to launch the strategy, alongside broadcaster and dementia awareness champion Angela Rippon.

Desmond, 68, was diagnosed with dementia in 2011. His 67-year-old wife, Maureen has welcomed some of the changes in the new strategy.

“It’s still very early days for Desmond and he’s still quite independent,” Mrs Clarke said.

“He does forget things but I would like to think the support will be there when he eventually needs it.”