Northumbria hospital trust launches home care to free up hospital beds

A health trust is starting its own home care service to free up hospital beds and ease staffing pressure.

 

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust informed local councillors that a lack of local authority care meant patients had to wait in hospital rather than be discharged home.

 

The trust said that the new service, which will operate in North Tyneside ands Northumberland, would provide 250 jobs across the two authorities, and it would “deliver high-quality care and make carers feel valued.”

 

“Bed-blocking” is currently a major issue across England with hospitals unable to discharge patients due to a lack of support in their homes.  As a result, many end up staying longer in hospital than necessary, occupying beds needed for other patients who then have to wait for admission.

 

Gillian Finn, operational services manager of home care and care homes at the trust, said the new service would “provide capacity for the sector.  Across both local authority areas there is a substantial number of care hours not being met.

 

“People are often waiting in hospital and this can reduce the opportunity to return home.”

 

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events.  Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

 

If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.

 

Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

 

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