Listen
Argyll and Bute older people's services
07/08/2007
Detailed proposals for the redesign of services for older people in the Helensburgh and Lomond Locality were approved today by Nicola Sturgeon.
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing said the NHS Highland and Argyll and Bute Council plans ensure that the focus of future services will be person-centred, improving access to local services which will allow people to stay within their own communities for as long as possible.
Ms Sturgeon said:
"All service redesign proposals can have personal implications for patients and their families, as well as for the broader community.
"It's with this in mind that, in approving these detailed proposals, I particularly welcome the emphasis on the development of preventative, anticipatory and rehabilitative care; the increased access to respite and day care; and increased rapid intervention to prevent admission and support early discharge.
"I am satisfied that the proposals will achieve our aims of establishing a person-centred service, which improves access to services locally to maintain people in their community for as long as possible.
"Taking all of this into account, I am giving my approval to NHS Highland to commission and deliver these services to replace in-patient services at the Jeannie Deans Unit in Helensburgh and for the Unit to close as a continuing care facility.
"I am aware of the level of local support for the Jeannie Deans Unit and have made clear to the Board that it is important to continue to engage with local communities to build up confidence around the shift to a community based infrastructure.
"I welcome the Board's intention to develop the Jeannie Deans Unit as a facility for continued NHS use through the provision of mental health, disability and podiatry services and for planned ongoing consideration for broadening NHS utilisation of the Victoria Infirmary site.
"I now look forward to the Board and Argyll and Bute Council working together with patients, carers, staff and other partners to make their proposals a reality and to provide older people in Helensburgh and Lomond area with the high quality, safe, sustainable services which they have a right to expect."
Final proposals for the Redesign of Services for Older People in the Helensburgh Locality were submitted to Scottish Ministers in December 2006 by NHS Highland and Argyll and Bute Council.
There are currently no patients in the Jeannie Deans Unit, but it continues to remain open on a care and maintenance basis pending Ministerial decision.
The proposals will see the release of resources from the closure of continuing care beds at the Jeannie Deans Unit reinvested in the development of a range of community based services targeted at key points of intervention:
- Anticipatory/preventative care
- Intermediate/acute care
- Rehabilitative care