Mental health in Gateshead remains a major issue as the inequalities gap poses continued challenges to public health and social care.
The effects of social and economic conditions on health have worsened in the borough according to Steph Downey, services director of adult social care at Gateshead council. She presented a report into the issue on Tuesday June 14 at Gateshead civic centre.
She informed the health, care and wellbeing overview and scrutiny committee about the challenges faced as it recovers from the impacts of Covid 19 and tries to meet demans.
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She said: “We know we have got an increasing inequalities gap. Again, It is not unique to Gateshead, we have seen this nationally but we do know that some parts of the country, particularly the North East and the North West have been worst hit in terms of that gap.
“We know the impact of Covid-19 on our populations has been particularly challenging in terms of mental health. We are seeing increasing referrals to mental health services without an increase in resources or capacity.
“In terms of social care we are seeing an increase in demand, not just an increase in the number of people coming forward but the level of need of those individuals. We are seeing people who have much higher needs than they would have prior to the pandemic.
“Older people we know stayed at home, as they were told to do, but that has meant people have loss of conditioning. They are not able to walk as far, more people needing items of equipment whilst waiting for surgery.”
In order to aid the pressure the council services are under, the council is looking into social care staffing issues. A report into the problem revealed issues in recruiting and retaining staff.
Steph Downey informed the scrutiny committee staff or potential adult social care staff are being poached by the leisure and hospitality sector who are heavily recruiting currently.
The council will be looking to make care roles more attractive with more career progression and looking into wages.
The report did mention some successes in terms of the council provision of care. In April, a specialist dementia care facility, Watergate court opened, offering 82 apartments to those in need in Gateshead.
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