Following the success of new ways of working during the temporary closure of one of Lincolnshire’s dementia wards, Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust will be extending the closure of Manthorpe Ward in Grantham for a further 12 months to further test a new hospital at home approach.
Manthorpe Ward in Grantham was temporarily closed in April 2020 in response to the pandemic and significant staffing challenges. To help prevent vulnerable older people with dementia coming into hospital at this time, the Trust rapidly set up a pilot home treatment team to respond in the community, to help reduce the need for hospital admission, which we know increases the risks to older people, especially those with dementia.
This small pilot has proved so successful that now COVID-19 is having a less substantial impact on our wards, we are looking to enhance the pilot of this home treatment service further, to understand its full impact on patient and carer experience and need for hospital admission.
To do this, we need to use the resources and staff allocated to Manthorpe ward whilst it remains closed and have therefore taken the decision to extend the closure for a further 12 months.
Throughout this next year we will continue to engage our patients, their carers and families, staff and organisations that support people with dementia to develop next steps. Any future options we develop will then be fully consulted on with our local community.
Whilst we have done lots of engagement already during the closure, we want to ensure everyone affected has the opportunity to comment.
We will therefore be hosting some open events where people can find out more about the changes and let us have their thoughts.
