Forum Fears for Future ...
THE Senior Council fears that the possible closure of a unit in Newton Abbot for those suffering from dementia and mental health problems would inevitably affect the most vulnerable people in the community
A decision on the future of the 16-bed Brunel Lodge, in Old Totnes Road, will be made by the Devon NHS Partnership Trust later this month. It has already said that it would prefer to increase the range of community services and reduce the dependency on hospital beds.
Bob Newton, the vice-chair of Newton Abbot Forum, the local branch of the Senior Council for Devon, said that he was worried that the trust would axe Brunel Lodge, in the same way that it had already closed the Briseham Unit in Brixham and the Harbourne Unit in Totnes.
He said: ‘I've been told by Trevor Snowden, of the trust's clinical directorate in Newton Abbot, that some of the existing patients in Brunel Lodge would be moved to either domiciliary care or transferred to the Franklin Unit in Exeter, the Fernworthy Unit in Torbay or even Tiverton. This will cause hardship to patients, families and loved ones.'
Mr Newton asked whether any consultation with the public and groups such as the Senior Council had taken place prior to a decision being taken. He pointed out that there were just under an estimated 3,000 dementia sufferers in South Devon, a number due to rise to around 3,650 in 2021. Furthermore, Devon's ageing population would inevitably require further services to be made available in the coming years.
He added: ‘Following a Care Quality Commission report recently on the Briseham, Harbourne and Brunel units, the trust was required to improve its services at these units. Has this indeed happened or is the Brunel Unit being closed in the same manner as the Harbourne Unit, just before the deadline set by the Care Quality Commission?
‘My understanding is that Newton Abbot MP Anne Marie Morris has requested an urgent meeting with Iain Tulley, chief executive of the Devon NHS Partnership Trust, to discuss Brunel Lodge's future.'
Date issued: 13 October 2010
A VOLUNTARY forum representing people aged 50+ in the Newton Abbot area gained several new members at the weekend.
A recruitment event held by the Newton Abbot branch of the Senior Council for Devon at the Courtenay Centre succeeded in its aim of attracting fresh interest in its activities.
Some 20 people heard a presentation from David P. Snelling, of the council's Ivybridge group, about its work on the important issues facing older people, including health and social care, transport and leisure, rural services and age/youth relations.
Donald Polman, one of the original members of the Newton Abbot group said "It was very pleasing to see so many new faces who turned up to hear about the work of the Senior Council and I am optimistic that an active group can be established in the town and local area to take up and act upon the concerns of older people. I would like to thank the representatives of other Devon Senior Council groups who gave up their time to come along to assist and participate in the information session."
The first meeting of the group was held at 10 am on Thursday 7th October at Forde Park Care Home, 6 & 7 Forde Park, Newton Abbot, TQ12 1DE and all were welcome.
