Across the North West, thousands of older and frail patients will receive urgent treatment at home, as part of NHS plans to manage additional pressure this winter.
Urgent Community Response (UCR) teams provide urgent care to patients in their own homes, which means people avoid having to be admitted to hospital.
Through these teams, older people and adults with complex health needs who urgently need care, can get fast access to a range of healthcare professionals within two hours.
Latest NHS data shows that October 2024 saw the highest number of referrals to 2-hour Urgent Community Response in the North West, with more than 11,000 patients benefitting from the rapid teams.
UCR teams are based locally, across our region, and can treat a number of conditions including falls, respiratory issues, urinary tract infections and more. And because the teams are made up of staff from across different disciplines, the patient has access to everything they need, meaning many people avoid having to go into hospital at all.
More than two fifths (86.4%) of all Urgent Community Response team referrals in the North West are for patients aged 65 or over with the latest data showing that more than two thirds of people in our region (67%) who received an urgent community response team response, was able to get treatment at home, without the need for a hospital attendance.
Dr Paula Cowan, Regional Medical Director of Primary Care at NHS England – North West said: “Because of Urgent Community Response teams working across the North West, patients – many whom are older and frail – are able to receive urgent care quickly, in their own homes, which is especially important at this time of year.
“Receiving care at home means patients are more comfortable, and don’t have to be admitted to already busy hospitals. And there are so many conditions which can be managed by UCR, because they are made up of multidisciplinary teams, including doctors, nurses and physiotherapists.
“NHS staff across the North West are doing such a fantastic job this winter, even with increasing pressure on services. But you can help by continuing to access NHS services wisely, use NHS 111 for any urgent health needs, stock up on your medicine cabinets essentials and only use A&E or call 999 with a serious injury or in a life-threatening emergency.”
In Wirral, Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust (WCHC) and Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (WUTH) work together to deliver urgent community response, ensuring people receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place. In November, the team responded to 260 calls in under two hours with 92.3% compliance against the national target of 70%.
Recently, following a referral from NWAS into the 2hour UCR service, a joint clinical assessment was carried out by a specialist nurse and community paramedic after an 81-year-old patient who lives alone was found on the floor at home and unable to stand. Prior to the assessment there was no support package in place and the patient was determined to stay at home.
The joint assessment included taking patient bloods which revealed raised inflammatory markers and intravenous antibiotics were prescribed, meaning the patient received acute care, monitoring, and treatment in his own home.
The team wrapped around the patient at home ensuring they were safe. A treatment plan was created, and a package of care introduced, including a downstairs bed, chair, commode and walking aid. The patient was also referred to the Virtual Frailty Ward.
Health Care Assistants (HCA) were also put in place to support the patient’s social needs, visiting three times a day. The team liaised with the patient’s GP and arranged for community nurses to continue with the individual’s care until the patient improved and was discharged from the service.
In East Lancashire, the Intensive Home Support Service is continually seeing the highest number of referrals in Lancashire and South Cumbria, and their 2-hour UCR performance is currently well above the national target of 70%, consistently achieving over 95% of people seen within two hours.
A 67-year-old who has a history of ischemic heart disease, angina and asthma was referred to the UCR team in East Lancashire after suffering from dizziness, reduced mobility, and nausea. After assessing the individual, the team were able to provide an oral antiemetic and IV fluid at her home, and she avoided having to spend time in hospital.
