Lincolnshire Conference Ensures Care is Fit For Frailty
Posted on: 30th June 2015
Experts in frailty from across the healthcare community shared their insight at a special conference aiming to improve care in Lincolnshire.
The conference brought together those who commission, provide and support health and social care services to explore how all organisations can better support those who are frail.
Frailty can include those who are at risk of falls, are immobile, incontinent, receiving end of life care, have dementia or are susceptible to delirium, or take a number of different types of medication (poly-pharmacy).
The conference, which took place at the New Life Conference and Events Centre in Sleaford on June 4, was organised in partnership with Lincolnshire's health community.
Guest speakers included Dr David Stokoe, Community Geriatrician for Lincolnshire West Clinical Commissioning Group, Dr Phil Mitchell, Medical Director at Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust, Kate Robertson, a Consultant Therapist and Researcher in Falls Prevention from Nottingham, Simon Lowe, a GP within Lincolnshire East Clinical Commissioning Group, and Dr Lawrence Pike, Specialist Palliative Care Physician for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice.
On behalf of the four Clinical Commissioning Groups of Lincolnshire, Rebecca Neno, Deputy Chief Nurse at Lincolnshire West Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "The Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Groups were delighted to sponsor the frailty event as it provided an opportunity to bring providers and professionals together to consider the impact of frailty upon people's lives and provided the opportunity to further the development of a Lincolnshire-wide strategy, where all providers will work together to ensure the needs of frail patients are met in a seamless and timely manner to promote independence and wellbeing."
Sue Cousland, Chief Nurse and Director of Operations at Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS), said: "We recognise that Lincolnshire has an increasingly aging population and we all have a role to play in addressing the changing needs of our communities. This conference was an opportunity to bring everyone together to consider a sustainable way forward, which ensures we can proactively support the frail living in our communities before they find themselves in crisis or in need of urgent emergency care."
