Edwina Hart has launched an innovative pilot project to support older people return home from hospital as soon as they are well enough to do so.
The ‘Frailty Fast Track Project’ has been developed in response to concerns that older people who need hospital treatment for relatively minor conditions sometimes experience unnecessary delays so that their ability to care for themselves declines. It will allow older patients to recuperate and be looked after at home rather than the need to be transferred to a care home.
The project will start in November and will be trialled for six months at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
Extra care and support if needed
Frail, older patients will be navigated through the hospital care system to allow them to go home promptly when they are well. When they return home, patients will have access to extra care and support, if needed, to allow them to comfortably resettle into their daily lives.
This project is an excellent example of the Assembly Government driving forward multi-agency working for the benefit of patient care.
Mrs Hart said:
“This pilot project will be an innovative way to try to streamline care for vulnerable older patients who need hospital treatment for relatively minor conditions but may face unnecessary delays during their stay.
“Often this delayed transfer from hospital is usually against patients’ and carers’ wishes and also means additional cost for the health and social services.
“If this project can reduce the amount of time a patient needs to stay in hospital, it will allow older people to comfortably return to their daily routine as soon as possible and continue to live independently in their own homes.”
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Jewell said:
“The project, which will begin in November will support older patients through their stay in hospital and provide extra assistance to help them resettle into their own homes so that they are able to resume their day to day lives as soon as possible.
“Enabling staff to follow the patient from hospital into the community to improve continuity of care for the frail elderly, should improve effective communication between hospital and community services and help patients and families feel supported. That this innovative approach has evaluation built into the project , so we understand whether this really does improve things for people is particularly helpful.”
