- New hub helps patients return home sooner with the right support in place
- Health, social care and community partners are working together to improve discharge planning
- A ‘home first’ approach will reduce hospital stays and support people to remain independent
A new hub dedicated to helping people return home from hospital sooner has opened at Royal Bolton Hospital.
The Integrated Transfer of Care Hub, based on N4, brings together healthcare, social care and voluntary sector partners to help identify what additional support is needed for people once they have been discharged.
The Hub will be open seven days a week to improve patient experience by increasing flow through the hospital, reducing the amount of time they spend in hospital and creating dedicated plans to support people home.
Key features of an Integrated Transfer of Care Hub includes:
- A 7-day service that brings together health, social care and housing.
- All teams working towards the same discharge goals from the moment a patient is admitted to hospital.
- Dedicated triage teams will be in place to support people to the place they call home.
- A ‘home first’ approach.
- Working with voluntary organisations, including Age UK Bolton and armed forces charities.
Patients who require additional support after leaving hospital will arrive in the Weaver Unit, located next to the hub, to receive a full assessment and make sure they’re being discharged to the place that best meets their needs.
For these patients it means:
- Fewer handovers between different clinical services, meaning less duplication of assessments.
- Less time spent in hospital and therefore less time away from their own bed.
- Reduced likelihood of deconditioning, infection, confusion or disorientation and increased dependence.
Rae Wheatcroft, Chief Operating Officer at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“Supporting patients safely back to the place they call home at the earliest opportunity is best for their recovery.
“With another busy winter fast approaching, our teams working in the new dedicated hub will play a key role in identifying what patients need to leave hospital from the moment they arrive. This will help ensure our hospital and services keep moving and that we’re creating space for people arriving through our Emergency Department.”
Rachel Tanner, Director of Adults, Communities and Integration at Bolton Council, said:
“This new hub is a great example of how health and social care can work together to support people home sooner and more safely.
“By taking a ‘home first’ approach and planning for discharge from the moment someone is admitted, we can help people maintain their independence, receive the right support in the community, and spend less time in hospital than they need to.”
The creation of the hub forms part of the Trust’s 2024-2029 strategy to create new models of care that better meet the needs of Bolton and reduce pressure on hospital services, as well as with the government’s 10 Year Health Plan for England which focuses on shifting care from hospitals to communities.
For more information about services at Royal Bolton Hospital and how the Trust works with organisations in Bolton, please visit our website.
