Rapid response team to improve patient care

Wednesday 15 October 2014

The charity that provides nursing care in the community has been piloting a new service in partnership with Health and Social Services to improve patient care in Jersey.

The aim of the new service from Family Nursing and Home Care (FNHC) is to prevent inappropriate hospital admissions and, for some people already in hospital, to help them get home more quickly.

The rapid response team is able to safely support patients at home who are still acutely unwell, because it is run by nurses with special training in advanced nursing practice. The team works with hospital doctors to identify patients early in their hospital stay who could safely be discharged early and supported at home. For patients at home, the team works with the patient and their GP to provide care that previously could only be provided in hospital.

Team leader Clare Stewart said: “Much of FNHC’s work is provided to patients in their own homes. We know that patients who are able to stay in their own home recover faster, have a reduced risk of infections and maintain their independence for longer than if they had to be admitted to hospital.

“We have been trialling the scheme since May, and are pleased there has been a positive response from our partners in the local medical profession as well as patients and families that have used the service. We hope the rapid response will become a permanent service in Jersey.”

The service is part of a range of new community services that are being developed with Health. This follows new investment from the 2012 White Paper, which aims to help more people to be cared for at home, thereby reducing levels of demand for hospital services.