Nails in the coffins of two Community hospitals?
2 March 2012 WELCOME FOR HOSPITAL-AT-HOME SCHEME
A GROUP campaigning for older people in the Exmouth area has welcomed an NHS pilot project aimed at relieving the pressure of an ageing population on its two community hospitals.
Gillie Newcombe, vice-chair of the Exmouth & Area branch of Devon Senior Voice, the voluntary forum for the over-50s, said the ‘hospital at home' scheme, was a ‘terrific project, offering joined-up care'.
The service, now being trialled for six months in Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton and Woodbury, is designed to support people who have recently left the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital (RD&E) in their own homes, rather than in a community hospital or care home.
It targets adults with extended care needs, particularly those with brain damage and dementia.
Devon Senior Voice's Exmouth & Area branch hosted a public meeting to learn more about the scheme and its effects on Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton community hospitals.
Brenda O'Meara, matron of Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton hospitals, said that in her 40-year career she had never known it to be so busy.
‘We have full occupancy, we're definitely not sitting there with empty beds,' she said. ‘We're always being challenged to take acute elderly cases from the RD&E, and we never have enough beds.'
Maggie Gordon, health and social care cluster manager for Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton, said that 38 patients with an average age of 84 had been treated at home by a complex-care team of nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and rehabilitation support workers since the scheme started in December.
She said: ‘Patients with cognitive impairment and dementia respond better when their care and rehabilitation is provided in the familiar surroundings of their own homes. We provide the same quality of care and consultant involvement that the patient would have received on a specialist hospital ward.'
Private-sector domiciliary care providers had to be approved by the Care Quality Commission, and the costs and benefits of the scheme would be assessed as part of the review at the end of the pilot.
Ms Gordon promised that there would be proper evaluation of feedback on issues such as family involvement in care plans, training of support staff and patient isolation.
Notes to editors: For further information on this press release contact Devon Senior Voice's Publicity & Development Officer Tim Hall on 01647 273007 or email tim@scfd.org.uk
The above report was written following the meeting held on the 20th February ...
RESIDENTS are to have the chance to question health chiefs on the effect of a new pilot project on Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton community hospitals.
The ‘hospital ward at home' scheme is designed to support people who have recently left a main hospital in their own homes, rather than in a community hospital or care home.
The service is aimed at adults from the Woodbury, Budleigh Salterton and Exmouth area who have ‘extended care' needs, particularly those with brain damage and dementia.
Now the Exmouth & Area branch of the Senior Council for Devon - the voluntary forum for the over-50s - has organised an open meeting to allow the public to hear more about the scheme. The speakers - from Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, the organisation responsible for Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton hospitals - will be Anne Cameron, head of community acute services, and Brenda O'Meara, area matron.
Branch chairman Yvonne Wardrop said: ‘While we welcome new thinking from the NHS about ways of keeping people independent and out of hospital where possible, we are also determined to protect the valuable services that our community hospitals provide. We would hate it if this pilot project proved to be the first nails in their coffins, so it is vital that NHS policymakers understand the strength of feeling in our community.
‘That is why there will be plenty of time to ask questions and for further conversation with our guests.'
The meeting, which is free and open to all, will be held at the Bastin Hall in Elm Grove, Exmouth EX8 1DJ, at 2pm on Monday 20 February. Coffee, tea and cakes will be served.
For more information, contact Diana Budgen on 01395 278152 or email d.budgen@sky.com
