Health Improvement Programme for
Doncaster 2000 - 2003

Strategic Direction

The National Priorities Guidance sets down the strategic direction and the aim is to maintain and develop services which:

• Reduce the risk of loss of independence following unplanned and avoidable admission to hospital by reducing the growth in emergency admissions.
• Prevent or delay loss of independence so improving quality of life.
• Improve older people's opportunities for optional recuperation and rehabilitation
• Provide carers with support and services to maintain their health.

Target

In common with the rest of the nation, Doncaster's population is ageing and can therefore be expected to require additional support in the coming years. As this theme is concerned with a particular section of the population rather than a disease group there are few specific quantitative targets. However, maintaining independence is an important issue and a national target has been set which has been adopted locally.

To achieve a year on year 3% reduction in emergency hospital admission of the over 75s.

General Commentary

For the purpose of planning and developing services "Older People" are defined as those in excess of 65 years of age which currently equates to 45,600 or 15.7% of Doncaster's population.

The Older People's strategy is currently dominated by the requirements of Better Services For Vulnerable People (BSVP) and the promoting independence agenda in Modernising Social Services. The Better Services for Vulnerable People guidance focuses on developing Joint Investment Plans for services to meet continuing and community care needs, working to improve multi-disciplinary assessments of older people both in hospital and community settings and to develop services which optimise independence through rehabilitation and recuperation. Through Promoting Independence, three year grants have been made available to each Social Services Department to ensure that services promote the independence of older people allowing them to regain or maintain skills to care for themselves. A National Service Framework (NSF) is soon to be published which will dominate the strategic agenda in the coming years and the strategic direction of the theme will be further developed when the NSF becomes available.

Further information can be obtained by downloading the full text version of the Health Improvement Programme for Doncaster 2000 - 2003.

Any comments on this section should be submitted to the Theme Lead, Mrs. Sarah Rogerson, Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council, The Council House, College Road, Doncaster, DN1 2DA email: Sarah.Rogerson@Doncaster.gov.uk