This assessment handbook presentation is dedicated to the North West of Edinburgh and this community’s key issues related to healthcare. As this city district is characterized by a growing number of senior citizens and low-income immigrants, the issues of the growing number of mental health diseases and a lack of healthcare services should be addressed. This work comprehensively analyzes the district’s healthcare-related situation and necessary intervention for its improvement.
Description of the community
The North West of Edinburgh is the largest city district with a population of 138,995 people out of 487500 total living in Edinburgh (National Records of Scotland. Population Estimates). Not only is the North West of the city most populous, but it also contains the highest number of senior citizens that are in special need of healthcare services. The population of the city is growing fast, especially among older citizens, which imposes an additional load on healthcare services (Figure 1). The growth is partially brought about by immigration, with Chinese and Vietnamese communities as the largest ones (National Records of Scotland. Population Estimates). Many of them live below the poverty line and require additional healthcare and social services due to inadequate living conditions. In addition, poverty is closely connected with an area’s other issues, such as unemployment, poor education, and a lack of social life for your people. As a result, community safety is also impacted by crimes caused by poverty.
Key Issues for the Community
The problems that exist within the district are rooted in the structure of the population, with many older people who need additional care and a lack of access to healthcare for disadvantaged groups. Thus, it has been estimated that the number of hospital admissions in the Northwest area is the highest in the city and is set to grow, resulting in an additional financial load on the healthcare system (Scottish Longitudinal Study. Development & Support Unit. Factsheets). In addition, the problem of healthcare inaccessibility was enhanced by the COVID pandemic, which had many negative outcomes among 65+ citizens with serious complications necessitating additional services (Walsh et al., 2020). The northwest area contains the highest number of people with health conditions, among which are blindness and hearing loss, as well as disabled individuals (Figure 2).
Health and Social Care Priorities
Among the healthcare priorities is the increase in the level of care for diverse community groups, especially for older people living with dementia, loss of hearing or sight or otherwise disabled. Another priority is the effective prevention and treatment of mental states and diseases that people are likely to develop in older age. Finally, the treatment of alcohol and drug addictions is on the area’s priority list.
In turn, social care priorities imply social justice for all district citizens regardless of age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. In addition, it is essential to create spaces for skill acquisition and interaction of people. In this case, they will receive more opportunities for employment and leisure time options.
Necessary Interventions
First of all, psychological work should be conducted among the older population and migrant groups to reduce the levels of stress and disappointment that often lead to mental disease or drug abuse (Craig & Robinson, 2019). While psychological work should be conducted by licensed psychologists, nurses may have a significant role in health promotion by giving timely advice, sympathy and care older people often need.
Secondly, additional facilities for people suffering from dementia, loss of sight, or hearing should be elaborated. These facilities may include ‘sensory gardens’ where people can explore things with their hands and communicate with others remaining physically active and socially integrated into society. Nurses can be actively engaged in this work by helping people cope with sensory elements as well as assisting in building communication at the initial stage of the process for health improvement. Finally, a system of unpaid carers should be established so that older people receive all the support they need and it does not turn into an extra load on the healthcare budget, already tightly stretched in the Northwest district.
Involvement of specialists
Identified interventions require the involvement of other specialists besides nurses. They will be responsible for the provision of efficient assistance for older and disabled patients and the treatment of mental health problems and substance abuse. Specialists include general practitioners, community pharmacologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, counselors, social workers, and health visitors.
References
Craig, N., & Robinson, M. (2019). Towards a preventative approach to improving health and reducing health inequalities: A view from Scotland. Public health, 169, 195-200. Web.
Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership Strategic Plan 2016-19. Web.
National Records of Scotland. Population Estimates. Web.
Scottish Longitudinal Study. Development & Support Unit. Factsheets. Web.
Walsh, D., Lowther, M., McCartney, G., & Reid, K. (2020). Can Scotland achieve its aim of narrowing health inequalities in a post-pandemic world?. Public Health in Practice, 1, 100042. Web.