Hartlepool summit calls for healthcare services to be improved

Better care for the elderly became the centre of attention during a summit in Hartlepool, where a team of experts from numerous sectors came together to see how services could be further improved for older residents in the town. 

With the increasing ageing population in Hartlepool, its means that more people than ever are living with complex health problems and huge demands are being placed on a host of services – particularly those catering for conditions like dementia and those who have had a stroke.

Although the use of mobility aids such as electric rise recliner chairs or curved stairlifts can help elderly residents with jobs around the home, local services are vital for ensuring that the ageing population enjoys a far better quality of life as a whole.

The summit, held collaboratively by NHS Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees Clinical Commissioning Group, saw decision makers from the health, social care and voluntary sectors meet at Wynyard Hall to speak about issues regarding whether or not elderly people experience a service that reflects their needs, the situation of integrated care and how co-ordination between different organisations can be improved.

Care plan needs to suit the needs of people

Dr Paul Williams of the Hartlepool and Stockon-on-Tees Commissioning Group said it is important that a system of outstanding health and social care was implemented that is built around the needs of the people, rather than the services.

As elderly residents with mobility difficulties are among the highest users of health and social care services, it is clear that offering something that is suitable for their needs should be of paramount importance.

Following the summit, it was confirmed that local social care and health services will spend over £14 million in developing an integrated service from 2015, one which will focus on offering care plans for those most in need.

Image Credit: National Assembly for Wales (flickr.com)