Improved home care to prevent frail and elderly patients from being admitted to hospital has been launched by one CCG.
Mid Essex CCG has implemented computer software which highlights the patients with the most needs. GPs then visit the patients to provide more care at home.
General practice is also being linked with social care, to enable doctors, community nurses and social workers to collaborate when putting support packages in place.
Improved home care to prevent frail and elderly patients from being admitted to hospital has been launched by one CCG.
Mid Essex CCG has implemented computer software which highlights the patients with the most needs. GPs then visit the patients to provide more care at home.
General practice is also being linked with social care, to enable doctors, community nurses and social workers to collaborate when putting support packages in place.
Mid Essex CCG is currently putting a million-pound contract out to tender to find an organisation which can coordinate all the care that frail patients need to stay at home.
Dr Bryan Spencer, CCG vice-chairman said: “We’re trying to look at services [for the frail elderly] mainly because there are very often people who get admitted to acute hospitals that don’t need hospital treatment… They don’t manage it at home when they get a minor illness.”
“Many people have not just one long-term condition, they have several. It’s not just about age, it’s about a collection of people who are frail.”
