Chief Exec of Rochdale Council drops in to meet patients and staff at Rochdale Infirmary

Steve Rumbelow, Chief Executive at Rochdale Borough Council met with staff and patients at Rochdale Infirmary’s Oasis dementia unit yesterday, 11 February.

The Oasis Unit is a 10-bed facility which allows the assessment and diagnosis of patients from the Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton borough, with dementia and confusion arriving with acute medical conditions, either through the Urgent Care Centre, the Clinical Assessment Unit (CAU) or through direct GP referral.

Mr Rumbelow, who is also Accountable Chief Officer for Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale (HMR) Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), was greeted and shown around the unit by Lisa Ward who is the Matron on the unit.

He sat in on a Multidisciplinary Team Meeting where the needs of patients are discussed, before meeting with some of the patients, doctors, nurses and other staff on the unit.

A highlight of Mr Rumbelow’s visit was when he met with 89-year-old patient Evelyn Alcock where they discussed her positive experiences as a patient on the Oasis Unit.

Lisa Ward, Matron on the Oasis Unit said: “It was a pleasure to show Mr Rumbelow around and introduce him to the staff and patients. He was very interested to hear about the unit’s history and the different types of care we offer to the patients.”

Steve Rumbelow, Chief Executive at Rochdale Borough Council and Accountable Chief Officer at HMR CCG said: “I was delighted to visit a fantastic and ground-breaking facility, which is really leading the way in providing state-of-the art dementia care.

“It was great to meet such a dedicated and committed team of staff, delivering this superb service. We can be proud of the pioneering partnership work that is taking place, across the borough, to deliver such outstanding dementia care and support.”

The Oasis Unit is situated at Rochdale Infirmary, one of five hospitals and community services run by the Northern Care Alliance NHS Group, which brings together Salford Royal and The Pennine Acute Trusts.

The unit offers patients who present, or who are referred to the hospital, with a safe and suitable purpose-built environment to support recovery, as well as access to nursing and mental health staff.

The unit is believed to be the first of its kind in a hospital setting in England. In addition to the beds, the unit boasts its own relaxing lounge area, kitchen and dining area and visiting time is open for relatives and carers.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/86413/dementia-unit-officially-opened

A patient’s length of stay is usually between five and seven days, depending on their individual needs, as referral and care pathways are designed to meet the needs of each individual patient, providing a better quality of continuing care.