South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust said there were many benefits for patients receiving care at home, including building patient confidence in their own environment, reducing the risk of falls and losing muscle strength, less risk of catching infections, enabl-ing tailored care plans, as well as easing the transition from hospital back home.
The model was introduced last year in the Nicol Unit, in Stratford Hospital.
Although the trust reduced the number of beds, more patients have been treated through better use of beds, and enhanced and expanded services in the community.
Team members include rehabilitation assistants, nurses, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.
The team responds seven days a week from 8.30am until 10pm. At any one time, the team may be supporting 30 patients to stay at home by working with them daily.
They also offer rehabilitation to regain confidence and strength with daily living tasks that are necessary to remain living at home, for example, mobilising indoors, managing their stairs, maintaining personal care or preparing meals and drinks.
The team aims to reduce rising emergency admissions for people aged over 65 and reduce their hospital length of stay.
They also aim to integrate services across acute, community, GPs, social services and other organisations, for example Age UK.
The processes will ensure that only people who require hospital care will be in the hospital setting.
The day unit at Ellen Badger is also changing in line with the medical model and has been renamed to an Assessment and Rehabilitation Centre, refocusing care for patients and reflecting a new approach to rehabilitation.
“This will allow us, the local GPs and nurses, to treat more patients closer to home and the closer links with community services this will enable a quicker supported discharge home for inpatients.”
Source: stratford-herald.com
