East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) has launched a new virtual ward as part of its Intensive Home Support Service (IHSS), which has now welcomed its first patient.
The milestone marks an important step forward in providing care closer to home, helping patients receive hospital-level treatment in the comfort of their own surroundings while avoiding unnecessary admission.
Maureen Hey, 85, was among the first patients to benefit from the new pathway, receiving IV antibiotic treatment at home from Consultant Practitioner and Clinical Lead for IHSS, Lisa Kay – preventing the need for a stay in hospital.
Maureen, from Nelson, had previously been in hospital to treat a urinary infection but was discharged home once better. She was under the care of IHSS and unfortunately her symptoms deteriorated so she was prescribed oral antibiotics but when she began showing signs of delirium and hallucination Lisa was called and she was stepped up to the Hospital at Home caseload.
Lisa says: “Thankfully, because the patient had already been treated with IV Gentamicin during her recent hospital stay, I was able to administer it at home and avoid a further hospital admission – something the patient didn’t want.
“This not only reduced the pressure of finding a hospital bed during a busy weekend but was overall a far better patient experience.
“Not only was Maureen in the comfort of her own home but she recovered far quicker being there than going to hospital where she would have waited to be seen and for test results and more than likely have been admitted as an inpatient.”
Lisa did a follow-up appointment with Maureen the next day and seeing that her symptoms had improved significantly her treatment was reduced and two days later she was given the all-clear.
Maureen, who lives alone since her husband died, wanted to remain independent so was delighted – and surprised – to hear that she could be treated at home and didn’t have to go back to hospital.
She said: “I was cared for well during my previous stay at Royal Blackburn, but I missed my home comforts; especially my dog, plus it was a lot of inconvenience for my family to keep visiting.”
The IHSS service sent a letter to Maureen’s GP asking for her to be referred for specialist care, which enabled her to be treated with long-term antibiotics.
She added: “Hopefully that will mean I do not have to go back into hospital for this problem again, which means a lot to me, as there is no place like home.
“Without this service, I probably would have become really unwell and would have had to go back into hospital, which I definable, do not want to do, if I can help it.
“The IHSS is a wonderful service. The staff were extremely kind and quick, and explained what they were going to do and why before giving the medication. I would recommend it to anyone who needs help.”
The IHSS has been established for the last 15 years and the service has developed into the hospital at home virtual ward models. Their aim is to avoid hospital admission in the first instance and are based in community with 96 multidisciplinary staff across the service, including GPS, respiratory consultants, consultant practitioners, ACPS, nursing and therapy.
They look after anybody over the age of 18 who's at risk of clinical deterioration with a multitude of complexities, comorbidities and a multitude of conditions.
Lisa adds: “The team do some extraordinary work with some of the most complex people that you that that we would wish to meet and keep them safely in their home and wrap care around them rather than conveying them to the hospital.”
If you or someone you know wants to be referred to IHSS please contact your GP, carer or health care professional.