Trust expands older care to improve ward discharges

NHS trust says initiative will enable some patients to return home sooner, improving their recovery and wellbeing

A new service has been launched across Surrey and Sussex to cut the amount of time older and frail patients have to spend in hospital.

The initiative aims to provide comprehensive geriatric care and to get patients home more quickly to improve their recovery and wellbeing.

By reducing their length of stay and the number of patient admissions it is also hoped to relieve pressure on emergency department bed-waiting times.

Angela Stevenson, chief executive of Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust said the initiative will "increase the number of people able to be discharged back to their own home, in turn, helping us reduce length of stay and bed occupancy."

As part of the service, a Frailty Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) unit has been opened at East Surrey Hospital to support same-day turnarounds and prevent overnight admissions.

In addition, the trust's Geriatric Medicine Integrated Initiative (GEMINI) Acute Frailty Service has been expanded to help provide accessible specialist frailty support across urgent and emergency care.

East Surrey Hospital has opened a special emergency care unit to support same-day turnarounds and prevent overnight admissions

Dr Iain Wilkinson, the trust's clinical director of frailty, said: “We are really excited to introduce this new model of care.

"It is the right thing for our older patients and will help us link into the hospital as well as teams working in our local community.

"We know it’s going to be a lot of work and that this is just the start of an ongoing development of the services we offer.”

The enhanced service also supports the trust's Let’s Get You Home programme which helps patients return home or to onward care once their treatment in hospital is complete.

Ms Stevenson said: “A large portion of the population we serve is made up of elderly people.

"This service enables us to rapidly identify and assess them, making sure the right care is provided sooner."

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