Launched in May 2023, the South Eastern Trust’s ‘Hospital at Home’ service continues to grow from strength to strength. The multidisciplinary team provides Consultant led hospital care to frail older people in the North Down and Ards area.
The Hospital at Home team is made up of medical, nursing, pharmacy and allied health professionals, such as physiotherapists, together with clinical leadership from consultant geriatricians. The team works in partnership with existing community services specific interventions in the patient’s own home or care home setting to avoid hospital admissions.
South Eastern Trust’s Director of Primary Care and Older People Clare-Marie Dickson explained how the Hospital at Home service started for patients in four GP practices and has now, “expanded into all 24 GP Practices in the North Down and Ards area.”
“This is a fantastic milestone. Patients receive Consultant-led, Hospital Care in their own homes. The feedback is amazing. This is the way forward for the future, providing patients with alternatives to hospital care which helps them to remain in their own home.”
Interim Operational Lead Hospital at Home/Enhanced Care at Home Debbie Flynn said, “Evidence shows that ‘Hospital at Home’ services improve outcomes for older adults and reduces the need for social care packages after discharge. Hospital at home care reduces the risk of falls, prolonged delirium, and reduce the length of stay on the service and risk of developing healthcare acquired infections in comparison to a hospital admission for an older person.”
“We have had such positive feedback from our patient’s families and it has been a real occasion to mark our first year.”
Hospital at Home accepts referrals from a number of different areas including GP’s, Emergency Departments, Medical Assessment Units (MAU), Ambulatory Hubs, Professional teams, District nursing, Care Homes and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS).
Referrals for new patients can be made by telephone, Monday to Friday, 9.00am – 2.00pm by telephoning (028) 9151 4333.