Home-recovery service extended

MANY Oldhamers will be able to avoid a hospital stay and recover at home, following collaboration between Oldham Council and NHS Oldham

The introduction of a joint adult care-at-home service means that in the next six months 20 people who live in their own homes, have respiratory conditions and need social-care services will receive the new service.

Their experiences will be used to improve and update the service as it expands.

The aim is to enhance quality of life by preventing avoidable and unplanned hospital admissions, supporting discharge from hospital or care, plus supporting independence and helping people to make more informed choices.

Patients are being consulted about receiving the service via letters from their GP.

Currently, health and social care professionals carry out separate assessments and create separate support packages according to the needs of people in their care.

The new system should mean fewer admissions to hospital and long-term and residential nursing care, better co-ordination of the care by health and social-care professionals, leading to less disruption for those requiring care.

Colin Scales, executive director of commissioning at NHS Oldham, said: “Often, both our organisations deliver services to the same people who, in turn, struggle to understand and get the best out of our different ways of doing things. A single process, from needs assessment to delivery, is helping to reduce duplication and considerably improving people’s experiences.”

Veronica Jackson, executive director for people, communities and society, said: “Teams are now working together on the areas where we commission jointly.”