Japanese Delegation Visits Local Health Centre

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Aim is to learn more about how older people in Merton are supported

Merton Park may not be the first place you’d think an international delegation would visit.

But a party from the International Longevity Centre in Tokyo has recently visited the Nelson Health Centre to learn more about how older people in Merton are supported.

They went to various places in London to find out more about providing community care for the elderly so they can remain independent for as long as possible.

Chair of Merton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Nelson Health Centre, Dr Andrew Murray, said: “We look forward to working closely with them to share knowledge and improve care.

“With increasing ageing populations across the world, it is vital we collaborate to develop our future services.”

The group was hosted by the Health Innovation Network and Dr Carrie Chill from the network said they were particularly interested in social prescribing.

The Nelson Health Centre uses HARI (Holistic Assessment and Rapid Investigation) where a team of medical professionals including nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and pharmacists support patients to keep them well, reduce falls, recover from illnesses and injuries to stay living at home and receive the care they need in the community.

And social prescribing is where a GP advises non-medical services in the community. For older people this could be through walking or community groups where they can meet new friends to help with finding employment, benefits or housing advice.

This is set to be rolled out across the borough after a pilot this year. In the first year it found that 77% of patients said it had improved their wellbeing.

And 33% fewer GP appointments were needed as a result of the scheme with hospital visits slashed by 50%.

By Tara O'Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

August 23, 2019