| The award winning Integrated Team based at Tremeduna Grange in Trimdon yesterday showcased its achievements during a visit from Liam Byrne, Minister for Care Services.
The innovative and unique project has brought together staff from health, housing and social care across the Sedgefield area to create a single point of contact and access for older people and older people with mental health problems.
The Sedgefield Adult Community Care Partnership has been one of a number of health projects across the North East, which received a visit from a Department of Health Minister or National Director yesterday.
The visit to the Trimdon-based team gave staff from all five locally-based teams in the Sedgefield Borough the chance to meet Liam Byrne and to highlight their successes during the first year of operation. Part of the visit was a demonstration of the award winning IT system used by the Integrated Teams, which was recently announced as the winner of the Regional Health and Social Care Awards for innovation in IT and now in the national finals.
The Trimdon team was set up in June 2004 and the other four teams, working across Shildon, Spennymoor, Ferryhill and Chilton, Trimdon and Newton Aycliffe went ‘live’ during the past few weeks. The innovative project, the first of its kind in County Durham, was developed by a partnership of Sedgefield Primary Care Trust, Durham County Council and Sedgefield Borough Council to deliver ‘seamless’ services to older people across their area, with support from the County Durham and Tees Valley Workforce Development Directorate.
Paul Irving, Director of Adult Services for Sedgefield Primary Care Trust, said: “These pioneering teams aim to provide easier access to modern, seamless health, social care and housing services with one single point for clients/patients to access the services. Each close working team is made up of District Nurses, Social Workers, and a Supported Housing Officer, working under one Manager, to create a streamlined service to users with a single point of access.” “We are delighted that Liam Byrne has visited the site of the Trimdon team. It was a great opportunity for us to demonstrate how by working together the partner agencies involved have created a single assessment process, so that we can reduce duplication and provide faster responses for people with complex news.”
The Minister’s visit started with a tour of Social Care Direct, where referrals for the integrated teams are received, followed by a tour of Tremeduna Grange, the base for the Trimdon Integrated Team. Staff from the five Integrated Teams were on hand to explain how the teams work together and the Minister had the chance to chat to some patients who have used the new service. Liam Byrne said: “As minister for care services, my portfolio includes services for older people and adult social services, so I was delighted to come along to Tremeduna Grange to see a facility which is an excellent example of the way in which these services are being delivered.
I and my fellow health ministers, as well as a number of senior Department of Health officials have visited more than a dozen towns across the North East to meet with front-line staff as well as service users or patients, and have learnt first-hand how services are working, and I hope to use what I learnt from Tremeduna Grange to inform my work as a health minister over the coming months.”
INFLUENZA VACCINATION CAMPAIGN
 Due to national shortages, the first batch of influenza vaccination supplies for 2005 will not arrive in the practice until 10 October.
The Department of Health (DoH) is recommending that patients over the age of 65, and patients of any age
who suffer from the following chronic conditions:should receive an influenza vaccination.
 a.. Coronary Heart Disease. (CHD)
b.. Stroke or Transient Ischaemic Attacks. (TIA)
c.. Diabetes Mellitus
d.. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. (COPD)
e.. Asthma
Additionally, the DoH is recommending pneumococcal vaccination, (protection against pneumonia) for all of the patient
groups above, less asthma. If you have not received a personal appointment from the practice, and you fall into one of
the above categories, please ring your surgery to arrange one. The priority for the practice is to vaccinate these
patients first. Patients who do not fit the categories will be asked to wait until the end of the campaign.
Practice Manager |
