Agenda item

To hear from Haringey Forum for Older People.

Toe nails

Toe nail cutting was raised as a significant issue for older people in the borough.  Points raised:

• There is a large unmet need
• There are examples of older people waiting until they are in immense pain until seeking treatment due to the cost.
• There is a link between foot pain and well-being e .g. the inability to stay active due to the pain and the resulting health disadvantages.
• Foot care can be seen as a preventative service due to the benefits.
• 12 week intervals between nail cutting appointments can often be too long.
• The cost of toe nail cutting services is high.
• St Ann’s Podiatry service reception generally has only an answering machine when people call to make appointments.  This is noted as an issue that will be looked at by the TPCT.

Query as to whether it is possible to have involvement from the voluntary sector, for example with the TCPT paying for volunteers to be trained.

Would like a joint meeting with Haringey Council, The Teaching Primary Care Trust, the Voluntary Sector and the Haringey Forum for Older People to discuss a way forward. 

Noted that all parties present agree that a joint solution is needed and a joint meeting will be considered.

Points of discussion

The TPCT acknowledged that there has been a restriction in foot care services due to financial pressures.  However it is noted that foot care is being prioritised in the current commissioning round for investment.

When considering investment proposals the evidence base, need and best practice will be considered.

Foot Care is a health need and therefore funded by the TPCT and not by social care.

Four Haringey Council Drop-in Centres provide foot care for older people, however it is recognised that this is only available to those people able to physically get to the drop in centres.

Alex McTeare (TPCT) is due to meet the Service Manager responsible for foot care within the week.

Noted that information on foot care services in Haringey is not seen as being widely available for people needing the service.

Dentist Treatment

Haringey has 52 dental surgeries for a population of 225,400.  This is not thought to be enough especially as 40 of the surgeries do not accept new fee-paying adult patients.

Access is therefore very limited and it is often hard to find an NHS dentist due to a lack of information available.  This includes people not knowing how to go about registering with a dentist.

Even though the London Assembly has praised uptake levels in Haringey the Assembly Members believes that the below national uptake is a serious public health issue.

NHS charges are very high especially for crowns, dentures and bridges which is self funded.

Haringey’s older people find dental treatment very expensive especially with the rises in costs of living and other services needed.  For example, nail cutting and optical charges.  The result is that older people’s quality of life is being affected.

Issues raised:

Expense of dental treatment.

Lack of information on dental surgeries in Haringey, including in appropriate community languages.

It is felt that dental surgeries should be in each of the new super health centres with transport provision for older people.

Language is also a concern at the surgeries with some people not being able to understand what their dental issues are.