Hospital trials early release

Sep 5 2008 Chester Chronicle

THE Countess of Chester Hospital has been running a pilot scheme which allows patients to leave hospital early and receive follow-up care at home during their recovery process.

Launched as a one-year pilot scheme earlier in the year, the trust’s orthopaedic outreach team allows patients who are deemed to be well enough to be discharged early from hospital to receive follow up care in the comfort of their own home.

Delays in discharging patients can lead to an extensive shortage of beds which reduces the flow of patients through the hospital. The Countess formed the orthopaedic outreach team to reduce the length of stay of patients who are well enough to be discharged. It is estimated that on average the team can manage the early discharge of nine patients per week.

The team consists of a nurse co-ordinator, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, and three rehabilitation carers. The help and care given can be anything from helping to make a meal, assisting patients when getting out of bed and getting dressed in the morning, as well as continuous rehabilitation support to maximise a patient’s mobility and independence following surgery.

Clinical lead for therapy services, Alison Swanton, said: “This service not only benefits patients who are in hospital for a shorter time, but it also frees up beds for the trust.”

During the first three months of the pilot scheme, 57 patients benefited from the service. It is the team’s aim to have saved the equivalent of 700 bed days when the pilot is completed.