About the centre
We were delighted to open the Community Intermediate Care Centre (CICC) on Monday 4 January 2021 with the aim to improve patient and carer experiences, avoid hospital admissions and reduce length of stay. The CICC reviews adult patients only although most of our patients tend to be the elderly. They have various medical histories and medications but arrive on the ward for rehabilitation with a view to going home.
CICC consists of three wards, Bluebell, Iris and Aster. Working at the centre is an integrated multi-disciplinary team (MDT) of Managers, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Social Care Workers, Nurses, HCAs and Admin/Ward Clerks who provide a ‘step-down’ provision for hospital discharge and a temporary ‘step-up’ provision for people living in their own homes who may need short-term or urgent support. We currently have a variety of specialist nurses for example Tissue Viability and Safeguarding Nurses, working as part of our MDT team.
Patients who are in hospital and have been assessed as medically optimised but who may not yet be at a functional level for discharge home, these patients will require on-going therapy and social work input in order to establish a baseline for discharge planning.
Hours of operation
We are open 24/7 and we are based on the Clatterbridge Hospital Cancer Site.
Who is suitable for referral?
- Community patients who are not managing well with their current package of care and require a period of assessment
- Patients who are at risk of hospital admission due to an emergency situation with their primary carer (not for carer respite)
- Patients requiring stabilisation and recovery from an episode of ill-health or hospitalisation, for targeted person-centred care, support and therapies to enable them to return home or to an alternative setting
Who is unsuitable for referral
- Patients with significant psychiatric/behavioural problems requiring 1:1 support
- Patients who are continuing to use drugs and who are not entering a programme of drug rehabilitation
- Patients requiring end of life care (support would be via Fast Track Continuing Health Care) (CHC)
- Patients aged under 18
- Patients who are not registered with a Wirral GP or who are not resident in Wirral
What happens whilst the patient is in CICC?
- The patient’s mobility and function will be assessed and treated by the MDT during their stay and discussed during MDT meetings
- Goals will be set and treatment plans adapted in order to progress the patient’s towards their potential
- Environmental visits and home visits will be carried out where necessary by the therapy team and appropriate equipment ordered from the loan store
- Cognitive Assessments are carried out and onward referrals are made to teams such as dementia liaison for support where needed
- Where possible, support will be put in place to enable the person to return home as soon as possible, for example with support from the Home First Team or domiciliary care packages
- Where longer term placements are necessary, options will be discussed with the patient and their family to facilitate the move to a suitable discharge destination
Key contacts
Ward Manager Bluebell – Claire Walmsley
Bluebell Ward – 0151 514 2730
Ward Manager Aster Ward – Sarah Barnes
Aster Ward – 0151 514 2750
Ward Manager Iris – Suzanne Woods
Iris Ward – 0151 514 2740
Visiting information
Visiting times between 1.00pm – 5.00pm and 6.00pm – 8.00pm, with protected mealtimes at 12.00pm – 1.00pm and 5.00pm – 6.00pm.
