The Putney Society - Community Issues

Issues Archive

Community Issues

Posted on Feb 07, 2012

The Putneymead Surgery at 266 Upper Richmond Rd is now open for business. Those interested in joining the new Patient Panel can email putneymeadpatientforum@nhs.net

Age Concern is looking for members who might have an hour or two a week to visit and befriend an older person in the Borough who might be isolated or housebound. This simply involves talking, shopping or other practical support, but not personal care. Contact Rochell at Age Concern on 0207 386 9085.

Brandelhow School, East Putney has created a beautiful garden in the school grounds. Sara Grove, the Headteacher would be delighted if anyone has an hour or two to spare to help with the gardening. She is allso looking for volunteeers to read to the children. Contact head@brandlehow.wandsworth.sch.uk

Report on the January Community Panel Members meeting

Meeting 26 January 2012 on ‘Growing Older in Wandsworth’ held at the Brewer Building, St Mary’s Church, Putney organised by the Community Panel of the Putney Society.

Speakers were Cllr Jim Maddan, Cabinet Member Adult Services, Dawn Warwick, Director of Adult Services, Wandsworth, and Rachel Corry, Chief Executive Age UK Wandsworth. Carolyn McMillan, Chair of the Putney Society was Chair for the Evening. We were delighted to see over 100 turn out for this lively and informative meeting. Cllr Jim Maddan explained how Statutory Responsibilities take precedence, and how the Council is forming strong relationships with the voluntary and private sectors. He also said they’re waiting to hear if the Dilnot Report (a Government review on the funding of social care) will be implemented or not. He told us about A.C.I.S. – Adult Care Information Service, which is an online directory full of information of local and national care services available to residents of Wandsworth. It covers all aspects of Adult Care. (www.wandsworth.gov.uk/acis) Dawn Warwick, told us how the Adult Services Department was set up 5 years ago, in its present form, and aims to give more choice and control back to residents. The Department has a large remit, and Ms Warwick tried to give as comprehensive a view as she could in the allotted time.

The Council is moving to a system giving people more choice and control of their own care. With the current poor economic climate, services must be value for money, and allocated fairly, and with changes to the NHS, the Council are working closely with Health services to cut out overlapping tasks. There is also the Personal Budget, whereby a person is assessed and means tested, and, if appropriate, the allocated funding is paid directly to the person, so that they can choose what services they want, and when. Even if you have to pay for these services you will still have access to available information. There is the Access Team for advice, At present Wandsworth is supplying care to 5000 people, of which 3500 are over 65. This might only be 9.1% of the population of Wandsworth, but it still means a lot of care. There are pockets of the Borough where a high percentage live past 85, but other areas which are more deprived and people have a shorter life span. Wandsworth has one of the highest number of winter falls in the country, and a high rate of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and cardiovascular disease. Research is going on to find out why, and what can be done to prevent these. Ms Warwick explained that the Council is also investigating a increasing number of reports of abuse of the elderly, which is disturbing. Whether this is down to people reporting more frequently, or whether there is a real increase has yet to be determined. There are 14 nursing homes, 6 residential care homes and one extra care shelter in the Borough. There is also the Short Term Assessment Re-ablement Team (S.T.A.R.T.) – they deliver 6 weeks of after care after a hospital stay where when it is deemed the patient would do better at home. This helps prevent hospital beds being occupied needlessly. There is the Falls Team – St John’s Health Team who aim to help prevent the high rate of winter falls.

Rachel Corry gave a comprehensive overview of what Age UK Wandsworth does. They have a wide remit, with many volunteers helping out. Age UK can give help, advice, support etc with Welfare Benefits (are you getting the right ones?), Housing, Adapting your home (do you need rails put up?), Handyperson service (will help with minor repairs), Personal Budgets, Gardening (there’s a scheme trying to match those who have gardens and can’t do much gardening anymore with those who don’t have gardens and want to grow vegetables/flowers), Home from Hospital visitors, Be a friend Service (some people have no family and few friends left so a regular visit is a lifeline), Out and About (volunteers taking people on visits) and just about anything you can think of, Age UK can either help or point you in the right direction. If you’re willing and able to be a volunteer, get in touch with Rachel at Age UK Wandsworth. You never know when YOU might need their services, so lend a hand now. Telephone 020 8877 8940 or go to their website http://www.ageuk.org.uk/wandsworth

There were lively questions from the audience : topics included the lack of private warden assisted accommodation (it was suggested that perhaps the Council could suggest Developers of new developments include some in their plans.), Regenerate Rise and the Platt Centre, and various other issues. A great deal of information was imparted, and there were requests afterwards for a meeting like this to be held annually. There were also suggestions of meetings on Health and on Housing. If you have a topic or subject you want us to look into, please email Vicky on vickysw15@aol.com.

Victoria Diamond, Sue Rolfe, Linda Oakley and Caroline Whitehead