The intermediate care service set up in 2023 is reaping success in avoiding hospital bed days, reducing overall costs and ultimately improving patient experience.
Earlier this month, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting visited the service in action at a Carlisle Care Home and endorsed the project going on to speak about in on Radio 2 later that day.
Intermediate care has been in place since at NCIC since 2023 and has since grown to incorporate 28 beds being managed under the Intermediate care service, in Maryport, Carlisle and Wigton.
A multi-disciplinary team from NCIC, Adult Social Care and third sector professionals work with patients to help support them to regain independence and to return home. The team works with the Transfer of Care hub and wards at the Cumberland Infirmary, West Cumberland Hospital and community hospitals to identify patients who no longer need to be in hospital and are suitable for the intermediate care beds.
The model works on the premise of ‘Home first’, unlike a hospital admission as soon as a patient arrives at the setting, they are encouraged to take care of themselves, making meals for themselves, regaining independence and the confidence that they would need to be able to go home. The teams work closely with the patients to agree ‘rehab goals’ defining these goals and setting a time frame to work towards, with a view to have completed their rehabilitation within 14-16 days.
The Intermediate Care model was this month endorsed by Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting.
Speaking on the Jeremy Vine show on BBC Radio 2, Wes Streeting said:
“I was in Carlisle at a Care Home that was providing stepdown care for patients to get out of hospital. What was amazing was, not only the lovely en-suite rooms, but they would be around half the price of (Acute) Hospital beds. So I know we can deliver, a better experience, at better value for the tax payer all whilst freeing up valuable bed space in our hospitals.”
Paul Carruthers, Transfer of Care Hub Manager at NCIC who met with Secretary of State said:
“We’re really proud of the work we’re doing and what we’re managing to achieve through this work. We know people want to remain in their own homes for as long as possible and avoid lengthy and unnecessary hospital stays. We aim to give targeted care from a range of specialties to get people back on their feet as quickly as we can. The average length of stay is under the national average, currently sitting at around 23 days and coming in at around £4000 less than the average hospital stay.”
Paul added:
“We were happy to discuss this work with Mr Streeting and were all thrilled to hear how impressed he was, he felt we had an exemplary model of what Intermediate care should look like.”
Patients have also shared their positive patient experience of Intermediate Care with one saying:
“Although I was sceptical I can honestly say it was wonderful, the staff and everyone are great and they all work towards getting you independent and back to your own home. I never went to bed thinking I don’t want to be here. Now I am home I am doing really well, you soon get back into your old ways. I still have people come to my home to help me but I am back and it’s lovely.”
The Intermediate Care team are also looking how else they can further improve the service, using off the shelf technologies to support people in their own homes to help with medication dispensing and devices that support those who may be liable to a fall at home.