Councillors make hospital visit

Date article online: 19/03/2008

A group of local councillors have this week visited the Rochdale Infirmary to find out more about what happens when people are discharged from hospital.

The visit by members of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee was the first of a series as part of an ongoing review by Rochdale Council and the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. The review is looking at the processes involved when vulnerable adults are sent home after a stay in hospital. It was launched following criticism from the Commission for Social Care Inspection in last year's assessment of social care services for older people in the Borough.

Seven councillors took part in the visit and listened to the experiences of front line staff at the hospital. They also had the chance to discuss procedures with nursing staff on both Marland Ward and in the Medical Emergency Unit.

Councillor Dale Mulgrew, cabinet member for health and social care said: "This innovative approach was adopted as a way of helping us elected members get a better understanding of what actually goes on in the wards. Normally we have high-level strategic discussions in a Town Hall meeting room, so it was a refreshing change to be able to talk to patients and staff about their experiences. We were able to question senior nursing staff, and I have certainly now got a few key issues that I will be talking to our social services senior management about."