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One year on - positive impact of innovative hospital discharge programme revealed

22/11/2024
A programme that supports people in Oxfordshire to leave hospital more quickly to continue their recovery at home, has shown significant benefits for residents since its roll out last year.

Discharge to Assess is a system partnership programme, involving staff from Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, and Age UK Oxfordshire, working together to identify the best way of supporting a patient to leave hospital safely and quickly.

The latest figures demonstrate it has enabled 23 percent more people to leave hospital compared to last year. In October, this amounted to 657 people going home from hospital through Discharge to Assess.

Tamsin Cater, Head of the Transfer of Care Hub at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "This system is good news for all patients being admitted into hospital, and we're really pleased with its progress. 

"The outcomes for people recovering in their own home are far better than staying in hospital unnecessarily, and we've been working hard with our health and social care partners to make this happen wherever it is safe and appropriate to do so."

The programme is based on national guidance and came into effect in November last year. It brings together experts in health and social care in Transfer of Care Hub meetings, which take place three times a day.

The team considers a plan for a patient to leave hospital, as well as any homecare support they might require, before they are well enough to go home, speeding up the discharge process.

By working with the person and their family, plans are then put in place to support them to leave hospital and return home as quickly as possible.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: "Nobody wants to stay in hospital for longer than necessary. Indeed, for some of our older residents, remaining in hospital for longer than necessary can have a huge negative impact on their ability to regain their independence.

"By working closely with health partners and organisations such as Age UK Oxfordshire, we’ve developed a service that supports people to leave hospital more quickly, enabling them to continue their recovery in familiar surroundings.

"It's an important part of our Oxfordshire Way vision, to support people to live well and independently within their own communities.

"In the first year, statistics show Discharge to Assess is having a positive effect for our residents while freeing up hospital beds for those who need them most."

You can read more about Discharge to Assess in Oxfordshire County Council's news story:

One year on - positive impact of innovative hospital discharge programme revealed
 

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