Councillor Warns Closure of Dementia Ward Will Overburden Families

A health campaigner and local councillor has sounded the alarm over the permanent closure of a dementia ward, warning that the decision will place additional pressure on families and council services. Charmaine Morgan, a councillor for the Grantham St Vincents Ward, expressed her concerns regarding the closure of the Manthorpe dementia ward at Grantham Hospital, which has been temporarily shut since April 2020 due to staffing challenges. The hospital trust has opted to continue its home-based care model for dementia patients across the region, leaving families to navigate care without local inpatient options.

Coun Morgan highlighted the significant strain that home care places on families. “While care in the community may seem like an attractive option, it heavily relies on NHS resources and the support of local social services,” she stated. She pointed out that many families, especially those with elderly caregivers, are now bearing the burden of providing care in inadequate living situations.

“I have a local elderly carer struggling to care for their partner, who is also elderly and suffering with increasingly severe dementia, living in a two-up, two-down house,” she noted. Coun Morgan emphasized that such accommodations are not only unsuitable but can also jeopardize the safety of patients who may wander off.

Despite agreeing with NHS representatives that familiar surroundings can benefit patients, she raised concerns that those with complex needs now face longer travel times, as local hospital beds are no longer available. “It is, in reality, a matter of good fortune if you receive care in the community as a dementia patient and are supported in a home that practically meets your physical and security needs,” she remarked.

In response to these concerns, LPFT, the local trust, claimed that its home treatment service effectively reduces hospital admissions. Eve Baird, chief operating officer, reassured councillors that the feedback from families using the service has been overwhelmingly positive. “The concerns raised through public engagement mainly focused on the impact of travel to Lincoln if someone from the Grantham area requires admission,” she explained.

Baird added that the trust is committed to supporting families in maintaining relationships during admissions and is focused on providing careful treatment for patients in their own homes. “For people with dementia, uprooting them from their environments in often busy and chaotic inpatient services can have a detrimental impact on their well-being,” she noted.

The ongoing closure of local services has sparked frustration among residents. Many have taken to social media to express their concerns about the challenges of accessing timely care, particularly for elderly patients. Some residents have praised the home-based model for its potential to reduce patient distress, while others fear the gradual loss of essential services, including maternity and children’s wards.

Coun Morgan also raised issues regarding Grantham’s maternity provision, citing instances where women in labour have encountered difficulties finding available beds in Lincolnshire. She noted that some have even had to travel as far as Wakefield for care. In light of these ongoing challenges, she has requested a report on the frequency of maternity unit closures across the county.

As the community grapples with these changes, the impact on families and the overall healthcare landscape in Lincolnshire remains a pressing concern.