No apologies for absence were received.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board held on 18 January 2024. 

The minutes of the meeting of the Sub-Board held on 18 January 2024 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Introduction to the Spotlight Review by Councillor Patrick Joyce, Chairman of the Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board.

Scope of the Review:

To achieve an overview of the support and services available to people living with dementia and people caring for those living with dementia in Torbay, exploring current challenges and how support and services could be improved.

31.         Spotlight Review on Dementia Support in Torbay

The Chairman introduced the Spotlight Review on Dementia Support in Torbay.  The scope and Agenda were focussed with a view to identifying practical and achievable recommendations.

The key aims and objectives of the Review were to achieve an overview of the support and services available to people living with dementia and people caring for those living with dementia in Torbay, together with the challenges currently faced and how support and services could be improved.

The Chairman thanked guest speakers and officers for attending.

Adult Social Care Commissioning Strategy and Public Health and

Services and support provided by the NHS and Devon Partnership Trust

Members of the Sub-Board received a presentation outlining an integrated perspective across Torbay Council, including Public Health, and the NHS in respect of commissioning and delivering dementia services in Torbay.

The Consultant in Public Health, Torbay Council explained that there were 1,612 people aged over 65 on Torbay General Practitioner (GP) registers with diagnosed dementia in 2022/23.  However, the estimate was that around 2,714 people aged over 65 in Torbay were actually living with dementia in 2023.  The main potential risk factors for developing dementia were age, lifestyle factors, mental and social activity and sex (more women were living with dementia than men).

In terms of regional and national comparisons, as at August 2023, the percentage of GP patients with a dementia diagnosis, aged over 65 was 4.08% in Torbay and 4.12% for England with 3.92% for the South West.  The mortality rate for Torbay was similar to that for England but there was a real differential in terms of sex and deprivation which demonstrated that the figure was higher in respect of females and that deprivation factors in Torbay were higher than average.  Early intervention was key and the Lancet Commission research had concluded that twelve areas of focus, including maintaining frequent exercise, stopping smoking and treating hearing impairment, for example, not only contributed to healthy lifestyles but helped to reduce neuropathological damage and to increase and maintain cognitive reserve, thereby preventing up to 40% of dementias.

Moving forwards into the future, the predicted population change from 2021 to 2041 for Torbay was for a substantial continued increase in the numbers of older people and a reduction in those of younger and working age.  Both Devon and Torbay were projected to have approximately one third of the population aged over 65 by 2043.  The Chief Officer’s Annual Report 2023 focussed on Health in an Ageing Society and concluded that as a whole nationally, the population was ageing significantly going forward with rural and coastal areas ageing at a faster rate.  Inequality factors also influenced ageing rate and therefore there was a focus on prevention, with thought as to quality of life as well as how long people live.  In terms of prevention work in Torbay, there was a Healthy Ageing Programme, “Live Longer Better Torbay” which was working across communities to transform awareness of the benefits of staying  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.