Trust Board recommends specialist inpatient dementia unit
The Board of The Southern Health and Social Care Trust have today (March 30) recommended the creation of an inpatient dementia unit at the Bluestone Mental Health unit, Craigavon Area Hospital.
The decision was taken following a three month public consultation on the future of Inpatient Dementia Services in the Trust area which ran from 3 October 2022 until 23rd December 2022.
The specialist inpatient dementia unit will be created within the Bluestone Mental Health unit either via the use of existing space or through extension of the existing facility.
The Southern Trust had a stand-alone inpatient dementia assessment and treatment unit on the Gillis Ward, St Luke’s Hospital, Armagh.
In May 2022, patients in Gillis Ward were relocated to Willows ward, Bluestone Unit, Craigavon Area Hospital as an interim contingency arrangement to ensure patient safety and quality of care when dedicated Consultant Psychiatry cover could not be secured.
Jan McGall, Director of Mental Health and Disability, said: “On the consultation process, I want to thank all those who participated in this consultation and for their responses on this important local issue.
“By 2032, the Southern Trust is expected to have the highest number of individuals registered with dementia over 65.
“We need to make changes now that will ensure we can continue to provide safe and effective care for these vulnerable patients into the future.
“The creation of a specialist inpatient dementia unit, co-located with the wider Mental Health and Disability Inpatient Service at the Bluestone Unit, Craigavon Hospital, will offer increased access to medical and wider multi-disciplinary teams in one location and ensure safe, sustainable services for the Southern Trust population.”
The Department of Health will now be notified of The Trust Board recommendation to create a specialist inpatient dementia unit.
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