Our rapid response home nursing service was initially launched to enable nurses and therapists to assess patients in their own homes.
The nursing side of the service has now been further enhanced with the addition of community matrons who have more advanced clinical skills and particular expertise around patients with long-term conditions.
Since their introduction in January 2015 GP referrals to the service, which runs from 8am to 11pm seven days a week, have increased from around three a month to around 16 a month.
Previously around 75% of these patients would have ended up going into hospital.
Rapid response patients are monitored for 72 hours before either being discharged or placed under the care of their local community matron.
Referrals come from GPs or NHS 111 and must be responded to within two hours.
Eighteen community matrons cover the Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland area and the service links in with the integrated community care team for patients who require long-term care.
Occupational therapy and physiotherapy staff work alongside the nursing team to help avoid unnecessary admissions. Most patients referred to rapid response therapy are treated in their own homes rather than being admitted to hospital.
Comments from a recent patient survey
- “Aftercare from the nurses was brilliant, I was really looked after at home”
- “Everyone could not do enough for me”
- “Five star treatment”
- “Pleased beyond words”
- “Helpful genuine people”
- “The team were very helpful and got me through a bad time”
- “Pleasant and caring people”