Have your say on mental health care (From Bournemouth Echo)

Have your say on mental health care

4:30pm Tuesday 19th June 2012 in News

THE organisation that will be taking over health service commissioning from Dorset’s two primary care trusts next April is asking for opinions on its plans for older people’s mental health services.

The Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group has already spent several months listening to the views of service users, carers and older people in general. The Alzheimer's Society, Age UK and Help and Care helped gather feedback.

Proposals include establishing a memory assessment and early diagnosis service and an intermediate care service for dementia, and developing inpatient dementia care at Alderney Hospital. Dr Forbes Watson, chairman of the Dorset CGC, said: “We are now keen to implement the proposals. We hope to start making the changes to be ready for the new services to be in place next year and welcome feedback.”

Dr Denise Cope, associate medical director at Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust, said the proposals would lead to less time in hospital and more focus on people living independently.

The next stage engagement plan can be found on dorset.nhs.uk. Feedback can be emailed to mental.health@bp-pct.nhs.uk or posted to Older People’s Mental Health Service feedback, Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group, Canford House, Discovery Court Business Centre, 551-3 Wallisdown Road, Poole BH12 5AG.