Home care support in the first seven days after leaving hospital intends to support recovery and reduce budget demands.
By Julia Gregory, Local Democracy Reporter
Patients could get intensive help over the first seven days after they leave hospital in a new town hall scheme.
Islington council is introducing a seven-day recovery plan which aims to help an estimated 650 people a year.
Discharged patients will get home care and their future needs will be assessed.
The council looked at similar schemes used by councils in Wales and the north of England to draw up its seven-day plan.
The council said: “This recovery period can support people to get rested enough for reablement or to naturally recover themselves with home care support.”
Some people will also get six weeks reablement team support with intensive help to boost their independence after a stay in hospital and to reduce the need for longer term care.
The council will work with home care agencies to help with a “smooth transition for those who do need longer term packages of support.”
Councillor Nurullah Turan, the executive member for health and social care, said: “We’re determined to create a more equal future, where our residents can live healthy, independent lives.
“As part of this, we work tirelessly to ensure that residents are fully supported in the community and following a stay in hospital, and we are always looking for ways to enhance this care.”
He added: “Our new locality-based home care model – which includes a seven-day recovery model – reflects this, providing the opportunity for residents to receive care in their own homes following discharge, and allowing for thorough assessments to be made about any necessary longer-term support.
“We’re looking forward to seeing the positive benefits that this brings to people across the borough.”
Last year 3,900 residents were using long term adult social care and the demand is expected to grow with an ageing population.
The pandemic also affected the demand for extra home care, with more people with high needs discharged rapidly from hospital. Residents were also reluctant to go into care homes because “it was associated nationally with high fatalities from covid,” according to a town hall report.
In the last six months, demand has reduced and the number of homecare hours has fallen by approximately 1,600 hours per week.
The council has a budget of £170m for adult home care over the next eight years. According to a report to the Executive using the seven-day scheme and improving its inhouse reablement service, will reduce this to £151m over eight years.
