Ross health team spell out home care scheme
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EASTER Ross health professionals will today (Monday) spell out how they’re helping patients stay out of hospital by giving them the care they need in their own homes.
As part of NHS Highland’s annual review visit, Michael Matheson, Minister for Public Health, is set to meet members of the Extended Community Care Team (ECCT) from Easter.
The team, which includes staff from health and social work services, will explain to the Minister how they help prevent people from needing to go into hospital, reduce the length of time they need to stay in hospital if they do need to be admitted and enable them to remain independent for longer.
With the number of people aged over 75 increasing, it has been recognised locally that there needed to be a better way to support frail and elderly people in keeping their independence.
The team has now been running for about 18 months and all involved say that the results are impressive.
Graeme Mackinnon, community care team manager in Easter Ross, described some of the benefits. He said, “For me it’s about all agencies and staff coming together and finding the best ways to meet the needs of patients. The reputation of the team depends on everyone working together and what we have been building is a huge reservoir of trust.”
Doreen Brass, team leader with Tain Community Nursing, believes that the key to success has been excellent team working and communications, managed through a weekly multi-disciplinary meeting held at the County Community Hospital in Invergordon.
She said, “This might sound easy to do and be rather simplistic but in fact making it all work can be incredibly difficult.
“However, when it does work it makes such a difference. The communication between community and hospitals is so much better now. Working as a team has become a way of life with all members focussed on getting things right for our patients.
“We have all had to change and it’s not always been easy but what we now have is so much better than the old ways of working and thinking.”
Patient Margot Smith (75) of Conon Bridge, is also due to meet the Minister as part of a morning meeting with members of the public.
Ms Smith was transferred from Raigmore Hospital to the County Community Hospital in Invergordon after an operation. She was a patient there during April and May this year and came under the care of the ECCT for four to five weeks in June.
She said: “I thought I would need to be in hospital longer so I was delighted to be able to get home.
“It was an excellent service. All the different team members including nursing, home care, physiotherapy and occupational therapy were excellent and visited the house to see me.”
Dr Martin Wilson, consultant physician in medicine for the ederly based at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, spends half his time seeing patients in their own communities. He said the main principle of an ECCT is to improve communication and joint working between the varied disciplines and agencies involved in a patient’s care.
He said, “Many of the patients who will benefit from the development of these teams will be over the age of 75 years, on six or more prescribed medications and have more than one long-term condition. They may also have a history of falls or unplanned admissions.”
Dr Wilson explained that sometimes a relatively small change in circumstances, a fall, for example, can trigger a domino effect often leading to an emergency admission to hospital.
He said, “There is a lot of evidence which shows that this type of crisis can be avoided if the right support and care is available. That’s why we are putting a lot of effort into anticipating problems.
“By thinking and planning ahead we can make sure everyone knows what to do. Sometimes quite simple steps at the right time can make a huge difference. If we get this right many more people can remain at home, safe and supported.
“Of course, there are times when the only place to get the correct specialist treatment and care is in a hospital. However, with the right planning it is usually possible for patients to return home in a matter of days rather than weeks.”
