Issue - meetings

To receive a presentation by Ted McGuiness, Dementia UK, on the role of Admiral Nurses.

Members received a presentation by Ted McGuiness from Dementia UK, on the role of Admiral Nurses.

Admiral Nurses are specialised mental health nurses who work with the carers of people with Dementia. They work within an integrated nursing role which involves the carers and the families of people suffering from dementia, and they provide education, training, practical advice and emotional support amongst many other services to the families and carers.

Admiral Nurses works in partnership with NHS Trusts and Dementia UK. They work using a best practice model to ensure high quality support and services for carers and people with dementia. All of their nurses are highly trained and receive continuous training and development in partnership with Dementia UK.

After consideration of the presentation the following points were raised:

      How the organisation was funded, and whether there were opportunities for Admiral Nurses to work with other agencies. It was explained that the organisation is funded by sponsorships, and their structure is similar to that of the Macmillan Cancer Trust, in that their nurses are NHS or Social Care staff who are also supported by the charity.

      Further clarification was sought on the costs to patients and carers, and also whether the trained Admiral mental health nurses were able to get access to development opportunities. It was confirmed that are no costs for the patient or carer, and Admiral Nurses do have development opportunities within their academy, with Dementia UK providing most of the training in this area.

      Whether nurses would be trained initially as a mental health nurse, following which they could apply through the appropriate channels such as through the NHS and partnerships to become Admiral Nurses.

      Whether the PCT and the Council should consider a pilot scheme to examine the impact of Admiral Nursing availability in the area.

      Councillor Flude undertook to raise the possibilities at the Cheshire and Wirral Council’s Joint Scrutiny Committee. 

RESOLVED: That

1.      Ted McGuiness be thanked for a most interesting presentation;

2.      The possibility of setting up a pilot scheme for Admiral Nursing in the Cheshire East area be investigated with Central and Eastern Cheshire Primary Care Trust and a further report be made to this committee in due course.