News Date: Tuesday 2nd November 2004
Local MPs organise Social Services Summit
A summit on Social Services care in West Sussex organised by East Worthing MP Tim Loughton brought together over 30 senior managers from the fields of local healthcare, voluntary organisations and council departments. He was joined at the event held at Methold House in Worthing by local MPs Howard Flight and Peter Bottomley who were there to hear what was going well and what was going badly with local services for elderly people.
Director of Social Services John Dixon and Cabinet Member Lionel Barnard gave a presentation of the state of care in the county, followed by a talk by care home owner Paul Renshaw who shares the West Sussex Forum. Mrs Pat Roberts, the Chairman of Age Concern West Sussex also spoke, having approached Tim Loughton to organise the event to cover issues in the coastal strip following a similar exercise hosted by Nicholas Soames MP in mid Sussex.
The participants included the Chief Executives of both Adur and Worthing Councils; the Chairman of the Hospital Trust; Chairman and Chief Executive of the PCT; the Chief Executive of Worthing Homes and head of Guildcare.
Tim Loughton commented:
'This was a very effective way to bring together a whole host of senior local people who are concerned with the care of elderly people and it was clear that a lot more partnership working is now taking place but equally, a lot more needs to be done.
A key issue discussed was the need for cooperation on local housing matters particularly as it relates to the availability of sheltered housing and planning issues. Failure to do this invariably leads to more people ending up in more expensive hospital or intensive residential placements. Many people were also concerned about the constant raising of thresholds to qualify for social care and pressures on budgets. Some very good working partnerships were forged and I hope that we will be able to organise some follow up meetings with the same participants next year so we can see what progress has been made.'
ENDS
Note to Editor
1. The Social Services Summit was held on Friday October 15th
2. Attendees to Summit:
Mr Tim Loughton MP for East Worthing and Shoreham
Mr Peter Bottomley MP for Worthing West
Mr Howard Flight MP for Arundel and South Downs
Mr John Dixon Director West Sussex Social Services
Cllr Lionel Barnard County Hall, Chichester
Mr Stuart Heatherington Chairman Worthing and Southlands Hospital Trust
Dr John Bull Worthing and Southlands Hospital Trust
Mr Steve Phoenix Chief Executive Adur, Arun and Worthing PCT
Mr David Taylor Chairman Adur, Arun and Worthing PCT
Mrs Catherine Sweeney West Sussex County Council Social Services
Mr Les Goodwin West Sussex County Council
Cllr Robert Dunn West Sussex County Council
Mr Neil Perkins West Sussex Health and Social Care NHS Trust
Mrs Myra Hayes West Sussex Health and Social Care NHS Trust
Mr Tim Everett Acting Chief Executive Worthing Borough Council
Cllr Anne Barlowe Worthing District Council
Mr Ian Lowrie Chief Executive Adur District Council
Mr Paul Spedding Adur District Council
Mr Paul Renshaw The West Sussex Forum
Mr Robin Benfield Chief Executive Guild Care
Mrs Pat Roberts Chairman Age Concern West Sussex
Ms Marie Leafhead Age Concern West Sussex
Inspector Martin Patterden Worthing Police
Mr Robin King Chief Executive Worthing Homes
Ms Moira James Worthing Homes
Mrs Wyatt Beeches Nursing and Residential Home
Mrs Esler Melrose Nursing Home
Mrs Pavoni Rosedale Residential Home
Mr Neil-Smith Highgrove House Residential Home
Mrs Jill Wright Headway
Mrs Pam Spencer Headway
