Frailty and Elderly Care Medicine

The department of elderly medicine provides assessment, treatment and active rehabilitation for our older patients. Our services include in-patient wards, a Frailty Assessment Day Unit and a number of outpatient clinics for people with memory problems, recurrent unexplained falls as well as general health problems.

In-patient services

We have 65 beds arranged across two in-patient wards, Princess Anne Ward on the ninth floor and Windsor Ward on the sixth floor of the Tower Block.  The wards provide care to frail older people who have presented to hospital via the Emergency Department.

In addition to teams of doctors and nurses each ward has its own dedicated team of physiotherapists and occupational therapists.

Visiting on the wards is from 12:00 - 20:00 hrs daily.
 

Frailty Day Assessment Unit

The Day Unit accepts referrals from GPs, community nursing teams, the hospital Emergency Department as well as other departments of the hospital. It operates Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 20:00 hours.

We provide comprehensive assessment for those living with problems such as falls, poor mobility and unexplained weight loss.  We have full access to diagnostic services and specialist teams who can be called upon to provide their support in order to agree management plans across a wide range of conditions. Because the breadth of the assessment is so encompassing it takes a lot longer than a standard appointment in the Outpatient Department and if you are referred for assessment in the Frailty Day Assessment Unit you should come expecting to spend the morning or afternoon with us.

Memory Clinic

The Memory Service is jointly provided by the Elderly Medicine Department at Southend Hospital and the Community Mental Health Team outside of the hospital setting. The Community Mental Health Team holds its Memory Clinics at The Harland Centre in Westcliff and The Sydervelt Centre on Canvey. Our Memory Clinic is situated at the entrance to the Frailty Day Assessment Unit, which is located on the ground floor of the Prittlewell Building.

Before you attend the Memory Clinic you may be asked to attend for brain scan and / or some blood tests. The results of these investigations will then be discussed when you attend the clinic for your appointment with the doctor. On the day of your appointment you can expect to have a formal test of your memory to help the doctor to reach a diagnosis.

We are able to discuss the different types of support that are available in the local area for those people living with memory problems and their families, and we are able to refer out to those services for on-going support after you leave clinic.

We do have a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Dementia & Delirium at the hospital, as well as access to the services of the Dementia Intensive Support Team (DIST), both of which are available to provide support or advice if you or your relative with dementia is admitted to hospital and you have queries about their dementia care or concerns over the progress of the dementia itself. 

Contact us

Department of Medicine for the Elderly: 01702 385366

Memory Clinic (Day Assessment Unit): 01702 435555 ext 6861

Dementia / Delirium Clinical Nurse Specialist: 01702 435555 ext 6146

Dementia Intensive Support Team: 01702 435555 ext 8602