Frailty (health and wellbeing needs in South Tyneside)

High level priorities

  1. Encouragement of a shift towards more active screening for frailty and community support for prevention of the consequences of frailty (so called prehab), with adequate funding and resources for both patients and associated healthcare professionals. This would aim to identify those who are considered as 'mildly' frail and instigate processes to enable self care to reduce their risk of deteriorating further throughout the frailty spectrum.
  2. Creation of community frailty teams, and the appointment of a clinical lead, such as a General Practitioner with specialist interest in frailty, to promote that more active shift towards proactive care.
  3. Continuing support and development of the Community Falls Service through increased funding and increased communication between Primary and Secondary care teams.
  4. Development of links between NHS and third party sectors, to enhance patient care.
  5. Increase in funding, time and resources of General Practitioners, to manage the healthcare requirements of the frail. The introduction of the electronic frailty index (as part of the new GP contract) will go some way into identifying patients at risk.
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