Service details
Silver Birches Ward
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Silver Birches is a specialist acute assessment and treatment inpatient ward. This specialist service is designed to assess and treat patients with any type of dementia (either over or under 65 years if they are frail). Patients are typically admitted to Silver Birches if they meet the following criteria:
- they present with acute behavioural or psychological symptoms associated with their dementia that cannot be safely managed and treated in the community (this includes depression, psychosis, anxiety, agitation and aggression);
- they require medication trials for psychotic symptoms or agitation where they are considered high risk of adverse events with psychotropic medications (for example, patients with Parkinson’s or Lewy Body dementias, requiring treatment for psychotic symptoms).
- they are under the age of 65 with young onset dementia when frailty is moderate (indicated by a Rockwood score of 6 or above).
- Patients can be admitted and treated informally, under the MCA 2005, or under the MHA, dependent on their presentation and needs.
- Borough(s): Barnet, Enfield, Haringey
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Address:
Silver Birches, The Ridgeway, Chase Farm Hospital Site, EN2 8JL
- Phone number: 020 8375 1742 (24hours) or 020 8702 5110
- Service hours: 24 hours
- How to access this service
- Who is this service for?
- What to expect
- Service manager(s)
- Useful Information
How to access this service
Referral via a standardised single page referral from (via the trust -wide bed management team where required).
Referrals accepted from acute hospital trust psychiatry liaison teams, or tertiary hospitals such as NHNN at UCL and referrals from community Old Age Consultant Psychiatrists and AMPHs.
All referrals are screened by the ward Consultant Psychiatrist.
Who is this service for?
Adults with dementia over 65 years, or adults with young onset dementia (under 65 years), if they are frail (Rockwood 6 or above).
What to expect
All patients receive an in depth specialist assessment on the ward. The specialist team work closely with family (with the patient’s consent) and also provide family support where required.
Patients are treated with both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. They also undergo assessments by the ward OT and physiotherapists in regard to their mobility and functioning.
Patients undergo capacity assessments in regards to decisions around their admission to hospital and also their consent to treatment.
During admission, physical health is also reviewed in detail, as this is often tightly intertwined with patients’ mental health. Where required, cases are discussed with the local Consultant Geriatrician for complex physical health issues.
Blood samples are usually taken, alongside ECGs and a physical examination on admission.
During their stay, we hold at least two meetings with all involved professionals, the patient (where possible) and their family, to discuss the assessment, their progress and treatment and care plans.
Where relevant, DNAR and Advanced Care Plans are also discussed.All rooms are single patient only.
Some ensuite facilities are available where needed.Service manager(s)
Silver Birches Ward MDT consists of a ward manager, two deputy ward managers, an occupational therapist, Technical Instructors, sessional psychologist support, physiotherapists, music therapists, chaplain, nurses, consultant, junior doctors, and a ward administrator.
Useful Information
All you need to know about Silver Birches [docx] 3MB
Service strengths- Specialist service for dementia. Staff receive specialist training and development.
- Close liaison with acute trust doctors, especially Geriatricians.
- Individualised approach to management of Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms Associated with Dementia which includes pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches.
- Support for families and also close working with Local Authority representatives.
