City and Hackney Teaching PCT

This project relates to the creation of an Older Persons Reference Group. There is participation at all levels of the decision making process from Thriving Healthy Communities Board for City & Hackney down to front line staff.

The project began in 2001 with an event to mark the arrival of the NSF for Older people and a local partnership body was established involving Acute Trust/PCT/Social Services/Voluntary Sector/Mental Health Trust.

An 'Annual Event' that started in 2001 has now been held five times and is aimed at people who have used services in the preceding 3 months. In October 2005, 136 older people registered for attendance on the day of the annual event, the theme of which they decided themselves - mental health - 'A Healthier Mind in a Healthier Body'. Some were very frail, attending in their wheelchairs or using their zimmers or sticks.

The project feels the critical factors for success are:

•  Senior 'sign up' to give leeway for different approaches

•  Attitude to the more frail older person must be one of optimism

•  Invite older people to observe and comment on services at the coalface

Contact Details:

Eve Oldham
Joint Commissioner for Older People
020 7683 4121
eve.oldham@chpct.nhs.uk