This page is a printable version of: https://www.iow.nhs.uk/getting-involved/become-a-member/Dementia 2014.htm
Date: 04 December 2023

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Dementia Medicine for Members

Spotlight on Dementia
Summary of Meeting on 23rd June 2014

Medicine for Member's meetings are an opportunity to hear more about the clinical services the Trust provides, to learn more about how the Trust works and to meet those who run the Trust on a day to day basis.

The summer Medicine for Member's meeting was held on 23rd June 2014 with the spot light for the evening on dementia and was well attended by nearly 70 public members who heard first hand how the Isle of Wight NHS Trust is striving to improve clinical services for dementia patients.

The meeting was launched with an introduction by Trust Chairman, Danny Fisher and was followed by a presentation from Chris Whittingstall of the Trust's Memory Service on dementia and the services offered by the Memory Service. Chris told the audience that it is predicted there will be an estimated increase of nearly 2,000 Islanders living with dementia within the next 20 years. Questions were then invited on this topic with answers provided by Chris and Sian Bayer, Service Manager.

Chris, told members: “Dementia is receiving an increased amount of coverage in the media and while this is a good thing and is important, as it raises the awareness of the illness, there are some common misconceptions and some of what we hear and read about dementia does not suggest that there is any possibility of living well with dementia after diagnosis. Some of these views are unhelpful and need to be discarded to be able to provide constructive support.” To view the presentation please click here.

The evening also gave Company Secretary and Foundation Trust Programme Director, Mark Price an opportunity to update members on the recent Care Quality Commission inspection of the Trust and explain progress so far to Foundation Trust status and the forthcoming election of Governors, which are expected to now take place in 2015. Please click here to view the presentation.

Members were then able to ask a wide range of questions of the panel, which also included Chief Executive Karen Baker and Executive Director of Nursing and Workforce Alan Sheward.

Among the queries raised by members was the issue of how patients treated at mainland hospitals are discharged and how arrangements are made for their safe return to the Island. Alan Sheward responded by saying every effort is made to repatriate patients in the most appropriate way and that links with mainland hospitals are very good.