P 52

Ymchwiliad i’r Adolygiad Blaenoriaethau ar gyfer y Pwyllgor Iechyd, Gofal Cymdeithasol a Chwaraeon

Inquiry into the Priorities for the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Ymateb gan: Ffederasiwn Cenedlaethol Sefydliadau’r Merched

Response from: National Federation of Women’s Institute

National Federation of Women’s Institutes-Wales

Response to consultation on Priorities for the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

1.0  Background

1.1 The WI is the largest women’s organisation in the UK with some 220,000 members in over 6,300 WIs across England, Wales and the Islands. In Wales, we have about 16,000 members belonging to 600 WIs. 

1.2  The WI is an educational, social, non-party political organisation, established to ensure that women are able to take an effective part in their community, make new friends, widen their horizons, and together influence local, national, and international affairs on issues that matter to them.

1.3  When considering key priority areas for the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee during the next 12 to 18 months, Committee members may be interested in the research findings published in The WI at 100 Report and the resolution Appropriate care in hospitals for people with dementia passed by members at the 2016 Annual Meeting.

2.0  The WI at 100 Report – Findings relating to health and wellbeing

2.1  In September 2015, the WI celebrated its centenary. To mark the occasion, The WI at 100 Report was produced to present the views and opinions of current members as well as highlight key achievements from the organisation’s 100-year history.  The research reports on WI members' attitudes around 5 key areas including health and wellbeing.

2.2  Looking at our health services, members celebrate the remarkable achievements of the NHS, yet many worry (particularly carers) that health and social care services will not be able to meet their needs as they age. While a clear majority believe that over their lifetime the NHS has got better at meeting the needs of women, they believe that services aimed at improving mental health - a key concern for them - are failing.

2.3  The key findings in relation to health and wellbeing are outlined below:-

· 73% agree the NHS is excellent at caring for those with physical illness

· 17% agree that the NHS is excellent at caring for those with mental or emotional illness

· 70% said they could access healthcare when they needed to, however members in Wales were 10% less likely to report that they were satisfied with health services

· 49% disagree that health and social care services will be able to meet their needs as they get older

· 19% agree that the non-clinical care provided by the NHS is excellent 

2.4  The full report can be downloaded from the following link:- https://www.thewi.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/145854/The-WI-at-100-Final.pdf

3.0  Appropriate care in hospitals for people with dementia

3.1  At the NFWI Annual Meeting in Brighton on 11 June, a resolution was passed calling on the Government and the NHS to provide facilities to enable carers to stay with people with Alzheimer's disease and dementia that have been admitted into hospital.

3.2  One quarter of all hospital beds in the UK are occupied by someone with dementia.  Yet, these wards are usually not designed to cater to their dementia-related needs and as a consequence they are not getting the right care. Poor care while in hospital has proven devastating for those with dementia; thirty-three per cent admitted with an unrelated condition will never return to their own homes.

3.3  The WI would like to see a commitment from Local Health Boards to provide ‘facilities’ that make it easier or more feasible for family carers of those with dementia to stay with their loved one. Providing ‘facilities’ could mean a hospital offering extended visiting hours for family carers, providing family rooms, or any other practical provision that would enable carers to stay with their loved one for longer periods of time or when it is more convenient for them.

4.0  Further information

4.1  For further information relating to the above response, please contact the NFWI-Wales Office.  Tel:  XXXXXXXXX   E-mail: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX