Mental health hub in pipeline
COVID response proposals discussed
Recruiting more nurses and creating a 24-hour mental health hub are among proposals to deal with an anticipated rise in demand in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The plans are part of a report due to be discussed at a meeting of Perth and Kinross Integration Joint Board on Friday (July 31).
The report by the chief officer for the Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), Gordon Paterson, outlines plans under consideration.
In it, he reveals the HSCP is developing a proposal to create a ‘onestop shop’ for those in need of support, advice or therapy.
Mr Paterson said: “It would be available 24 hours, seven days per week and run collaboratively by the third sector, statutory services and volunteers.”
It would offer a preventative and recovery-focused approach “by providing accessible, social and community-based interventions to people locally and from surrounding areas.”
The report further outlines remobilisation plans for the health service in Perth and Kinross. It refers to plans to create a hub at the front door of PRI to assess patients and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.
Mr Paterson said: “Learning from the COVID Assessment Hub we developed at PRI, we are working in partnership with secondary care colleagues to explore the enhancement of the PRI ‘Front Door Model’.
“The formation of a hub there will offer improved triage, rapid assessment and testing in relation to COVID, flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) so that patients are placed on the most appropriate pathway, avoiding unnecessary admissions to hospital.”
Earlier in the pandemic, Beechgrove Care Home in Perth was remobilised in preparation for a surge in demand through COVID-19, and additional bed space was created at Parkdale Home in Auchterarder.
Mr Paterson said they plan “to retain the additional bed capacity in Parkdale in case of a second surge in COVID-19 and in preparation for winter.”
The community assessment centre (CAC) was recently centralised to
Dundee as cases dropped but Mr Paterson said: “Plans are being developed to reactivate the local CAC should we experience a surge in COVID-19 cases.”
In response to a Scottish Government request, Perth and Kinross HSCP has arranged visits to 38 of the region’s 40 care homes. The other two care homes are being closely monitored by the Care Inspectorate.
Mr Paterson said: “These have been supportive visits that provided an opportunity to discuss any areas of concern and provide clinical advice, information and guidance on how best to protect their residents from COVID-19 and how to respond and support their residents in those situations where people had tested positive.”
Digital technology has also played its part during the pandemic and might continue to do so. There has been a “significant increase” in consultations being conducted by ‘Near Me’ video call. And health chiefs have been able to use video meetings to keep in regular contact with one another and with local care home providers.
Mr Paterson said: “With partners, we are looking to optimise and embed our use of technology to deliver more services, more efficiently and effectively. However, we recognise that these approaches will not work for everyone in every situation and in some cases and with some interventions we need to continue to offer personal contact or visits in person.”
The estimated additional costs of COVID-19 on the HSCP are calculated to be £9.4 million - £7.1 million on social care and £2.3 million on health services.
We are looking to optimise our use of technology to deliver more services Gordon Paterson