The Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has started consultations regarding the future of Adult Services across Gwent. The suggestion is to centralise dementia care to hospitals in Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Newport and a unit in Torfaen; after the Grange Hospital is commissioned in 2021 .This would suggest the closure of St Pierre Ward at Chepstow Hospital ,which is currently employed for dementia care. Support for dementia care in the north of Monmouthshire would be at Ysbyty Tri Cwm Hospital in Ebbw Vale and from the south at St Woolos in Newport.
“I move that this Council works in conjunction with ABUHB and the ABCHC to find positive and futuristic ways of removing this threat to Chepstow Hospital, which has 10 years of the PFI initiative to complete the contract, and that the use of this facility should be enhanced not reduced.”
Minutes:
The Chairman agreed to take Motion 8.2 and 8.3 together for debate:
Motion from County Councillor Easson:
The Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has started consultations regarding the future of Adult Services across Gwent. The suggestion is to centralise dementia care to hospitals in Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Newport and a unit in Torfaen; after the Grange Hospital is commissioned in 2021
This would suggest the closure of St Pierre Ward at Chepstow Hospital which is currently employed for dementia care. Support for dementia care in the north of Monmouthshire would be at Ysbyty Tri Cwm Hospital in Ebbw Vale and from the south at St Woolos in Newport. I move that this Council works in conjunction with ABUHB and the ABCHC to find positive and futuristic ways of removing this threat to Chepstow Hospital which has 10 years of the PFI initiative to complete the contract, and that the use of this facility should be enhanced not reduced.”
Motion from County Councillor Pavia:
Monmouthshire County Council understands the demographic challenges the county faces over the coming decades. It recognises that the increase in older people will inevitably place more demands on our health and social care system, as an ageing population is more likely to have at least one and often multiple chronic conditions like dementia. Therefore, it is concerned by Aneurin Bevan University Health Board’s proposals to redesign older adult mental health services, which could potentially mean the closure of the St. Pierre dementia ward in Chepstow Hospital and the transfer of patients to Ysbyty Tri Chwm in Ebbw Vale and to St. Woolas in Newport.
It calls upon Aneurin Bevan University Health Board to:
1. Enter into ‘robust’ and ‘meaningful’ engagement with patients, stakeholders and local communities in Monmouthshire, regarding its redesign proposals and listen to appropriate concerns that any transfer of care outside of the county will naturally generate;
2. Regularly meet with the Cabinet Member responsible for Social Care, Safeguarding and Health and senior officers, to explore new, coproduced and sustainable models of care for older adults with mental ill health, as part of the Council’s overarching strategic plan to deliver quality integrated social care right across the county.
The motion was duly seconded.
The Cabinet Member for Social Care, Safeguarding and Health responded that the Council are consultees on the three month consultation, and will engage fully and determinedly to make the case for the best possible services for the people of Monmouthshire.
Following response debate ensued.
In terms of process we were informed that the report has been through Select Committee, as well as Council. There is a Member Seminar on 16th November with ABUHB to discuss proposals. Members were urged to attend.
The Cabinet Member for Enterprise suggested that minutes from PSB meetings be added to future Council agendas to ensure Members are fully aware of the work of the Public Service Board.
It was recognised that the previous Chair of Adult Select had interacted greatly with ABUHB, and it was agreed that ABUHB should be invited to a future Adults Select meeting.
Upon being put to the vote the motion was carried.