An exploration of the UK unpaid carer's world

                                                            in the hope of level ground being in sight 

Introduction and welcome by Di Topham. 

1

Professor Harrison explained his experiences as his wife’s carer and the difficulties and frustrations he has encountered. Professor Harrison particularly mentioned incidents regarding 

1. access to assessment tools, 
2. wanting to be actively involved in his wife care, 
3. frustrations regarding the limitations of the 2gether NHS Foundation Trust web site, 
4. timeliness of home care and 
5. understanding individual’s and teams roles. 

2

It was noted that contact via Professor Harrison’s web site was not how 2gether Trust staff wanted to communicate with Professor Harrison regarding any concerns as it was felt to be problematic in promoting effective understanding any issues. 

3

Jodie provided a range of information on areas that she felt maybe helpful including opportunities to participate in research

4

Tim Wallin provided an overview of the service available for over 65’s and particularly dementia services in Herefordshire.

1. Secondary Care Services
2. Community Mental Health Teams - 
3. Memory Assessment Service – provide assessment and diagnosis
4. Community Dementia Nurse (working in collaboration with GP) annual review and short episodes of treatment/ intervention and signposting as required
5. There is also a new service and 2gether are working in partnership with Alzheimer’s Society.

5

Actions agreed:

5.1  Mrs Harrisons care:

1. Jodie believed that a Care Plan had recently been sent to Professor and Mrs Harrison but this has not arrived. Jodie to resend.
2. Review visit to be arranged with Sarah Harris (Community Dementia Nurse) with Jodie to review the plan collaboratively develop milestones and therapeutic activities with Professor & Mrs Harrison. 

5.2   Communication:

Sian to liaise with Communication Department regarding Professor Harrison’s experience of the web site including, 

1. Highlight – lack of / difficult to access information on carer’s support groups
2. Lack of information about structure and care pathways to help people navigate to services and information

6

Professor Harrison’s well-being and his critical role in supporting his wife was discussed as well as options for support

1. GP generally the of point of access 
2. Let’s Talk, self-referral
3. Rosemary Carpenter’s role (CPN, Community Mental Health Team)
4. Carer Support Groups

8      Conclusion

1. Di Topham closed the meeting and thanked Professor Harrison and Rachel for attending. 
2. She apologised for any errors that had occurred in the past which had resulted in a breakdown in communication 
3. and hoped that the team could work collaboratively with Professor and Mrs Harrison in future. 

pagetop here   for pasting   30th September 2015 Meeting summary  here

                                       30th September 2015 Meeting summary - Prof H's response  here

                                        Meeting - 30 Sept 2015  here

                                        2g Summary here

AFH email 8 Oct                               red text updates 12 Oct

When is it proposed to give feedback arising from the meeting?

I delay a visit to GP until it has arrived.  But see a later webpage.

I mentioned the Mind programme.

"Lee Davie & Tim Wallin - 2gether Mental Health Trust 7th July"  here

JT email 8 Oct

I'm sorry you haven’t received the summary of our meeting with your daughter and yourself on the 30th September,  please find attached the summary from Sian who agreed to write this.

Sian has liaised with Annie Nightingale, who is part of the website team and she has acknowledged 2gether's website does need further development and work is planned to commence at the beginning of 2016. In response to your specific concerns Annie is looking at improving the navigation to carer support information. With your consent, could we forward your details to Annie YES so that she could possibly seek your views as a carer during the development stages of the web site.  I  hope that my participation in the website content meetings can be arranged.

I have sent in the post  copies of the assessments we complete with our patients, however as we discussed you have thought of a better person centred way of establishing any changes in your wife's cognition.

I do hope you have received the letter from Sarah Harris visit, please let me know if you haven't

pagetop here   for pasting   30th September 2015 Meeting summary  here

                                      30th September 2015 Meeting Home page here