20 February 2025

East Hampshire and Havant Voluntary Sector Health & Wellbeing Forum: Dementia and Memory Matters

View the presentation slides here

The East Hampshire and Havant Voluntary Sector Health & Wellbeing Forum Webinar, was held on Thursday 13 February 2025 – with c25 attendees. Following on from attendees being welcomed, Tim Houghton, Community First’s Chief Executive, provided a Community & Voluntary Sector update. Tim began with HIVCA (Hampshire & Isle of Wight VCSE Health and Care Alliance) and Integrated Care Board Meeting updates. He continued by discussing the Hampshire Dementia Alliance and March 13’s Dementia Assembly and Carers Support. Tim concluded by highlighting Positive Pathways in Havant, and activities at the Clanfield Centre and a range of new grant funding opportunities. 

Arron Shelton, Team Manager, Older Persons Mental Health (Havant & Waterlooville), Hampshire and IoW NHS Healthcare Foundation Trust. Aaron introduced the Older Persons Mental Health (OPMH) Team in Havant & Waterlooville, explaining their services for patients 65+ with functional illnesses eg bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and dementia. The OPMH Team includes:- nurses, consultants, occupational therapists, psychologists, healthcare support workers, and speech and language therapists. (OPMH also take patients under 65 with memory impairment, currently the youngest being 51 years old.) 

Next, Arron explained the referral process which involves GP’s (increasingly complex referrals) hospital counterparts, community care teams, and social workers – all are triaged. He emphasised the importance of the voluntary sector in providing wrap-around support. There is a 4-week target to see new referrals; urgent cases are assessed and seen quicker. (There are 2 local Wards for in-patients – regularly reviewed & those awaiting discharge, currently no beds.) 

Jane Ward, Charity Lead, Dementia Friendly Hampshire  shared about how the charity started, its objectives – of improving the lives of people affected by dementia also, how the service is actively promoted. Jane concluded by describing the Activity Sessions (cycling, gardening, equine) and partnerships – explaining that 100 people had participated 800 times, at the various Activity Sessions on offer. 

Finally, Helen Hamblen, Chief Executive, Dementia Support Hampshire & IoW began by explaining about the charity – how it started and the specialisms within the team. Helen highlighted the Emotional and Practical support available. She then described the Information and Signposting services, who the charity works with alongside their longer-term plans and ambition. The presentation concluded with ‘how to get involved’. 

The Health & Wellbeing Forum Webinar ended by contributors and attendees being thanked and by confirming the next Health & Wellbeing Forum date and time as follows:-             10.30am-12.30pm Thursday 5 June – East Hampshire Area – Venue tbc 

For more information, please contact Jane Bray:- healthforums@cfirst.org.uk