One patient going home under the scheme can reportedly free up to six beds in the patient journey.
A pioneering scheme is boosting patient discharges while encouraging their independence.
Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) is running the scheme in a bid to relieve the pressure across its two hospitals Queens Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital.
The initiative, known as “Hospital at Home” involves a nursing team travelling home with the patient and then providing essential care to the patient until a social care plan can be put into place.
85-year-old Lillian was admitted to QMC two weeks ago after complications with her diabetes but is now medically fit for discharge. She has been able to return home thanks to the team and will be visited by rehabilitation nurses up to four times a day.
Lillian said: “It’s just brilliant, I feel much happier. Now I’m home so I’m happy. I’m not going to cry, I’m just going to relax.”
It comes as both hospitals and social care organisations struggle with staffing levels and funding for services.
A direct benefit to the patient.
The hospital says that since starting in November, Hospitals at Home has successfully sent home 200 medically fit patients, resulting in saving a total of 1,000 bed days.
One patient going home under the scheme can free up to six beds in the patient journey to help relieve the pressure across the hospitals.
The team has also grown, initially starting with two members of staff, they are now made up of twelve staff, with plans to expand further.
The trust says the scheme also has a direct benefit to patients by reducing the chances of deconditioning and hospital-acquired infections.
Becky Saxton, Clinical Lead for Hospital at Home explains, “It’s all about patient care and getting people home to their own environment.
“It’s proven that patients benefit from this because they are not sitting in hospital, they are not deconditioning or being exposed to infections. It can make rehabilitation a lot shorter and they recover well.”
