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The new unit will run as a trial project
A specialist unit at Hull Royal Infirmary is helping patients with frailty to avoid unnecessary stays in hospital, the NHS Humber Health Partnership has said. The Frailty Same Day Emergency Care (FSDEC) unit offers eight assessment spaces known as “virtual beds” for patients who are brought to the hospital’s Emergency Department.
An expert team of therapists, consultants and specialist nurses work together to provide fast assessment and treatment. The hospital discharge team works with social services, run by local councils and community health care providers, to get support for the patient at home.
Dr Yoghini Nagandran, Consultant and Clinical Director for Frailty and Ageing at Humber Health Partnership, said the unit was set up to help people go home with the right support wherever possible, avoiding long waits or potentially damaging admissions to hospital. The new unit opened at the end of February and will run as a trial project for eight weeks to measure its impact on patient care before a decision is made about the unit opening permanently at the hospital.
Dr Nagandran said: “Frail patients often experience what is known as deconditioning, when their muscles waste, when they’re admitted to hospital. We know some can lose up to 10pc of muscle mass after just 10 days in hospital.
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“As well as the threat to their independence and ability to continue living at home, these patients also have a higher risk of re-admission because that loss of muscle makes them more prone to falls.” She explained avoiding even a short hospital admission can have a significant positive impact on a patient with frailty’s recovery, continued independence and overall wellbeing.
Dr Nagandran added: “By providing the right specialist input through FSDEC, we can help many of these patients and improve their care by assessing, treating and discharging them back home on the same day.” For more health news, click here.
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