Help for patients with extra needs

NHS organisations in Warrington are re-launching a scheme to help patients with extra needs safely return to the community sooner.
The “Home of Choice” policy ensures that patients unable to return home to live can, once medically fit to be discharged, move from hospital to an alternative residential or nursing home setting that is more appropriate for their needs.
“Home of Choice” ensures patients wishes are respected while freeing up hospital beds for patients who are seriously ill.
A spokesperson from Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said:
“Patients who have been cared for at the hospital and who are medically ready to be discharged are better placed and cared for in the community rather than staying on the ward.
“The care outside the hospital is more appropriate to their needs. In a community setting such as residential care homes patients can be better prepared to adapt back to normal life following illness or surgery, and patients can be closer to their family and receive the care which is right for them after their specialist treatment in hospital. It also means that hospital beds are freed up for newly admitted patients who need our services.”
Health professionals from all service areas across Warrington will be working together to make sure patients can return to a safe and caring environment. Home of Choice will help patients, families and medical professionals decide on interim or transitional care – a temporary placement in a suitable care home pending a placement in the preferred care home. To help this situation, discharge staff ask patients to consider several homes, to increase the chance that there will be a vacancy in the near future.
The policy will help health professionals, families and patients come to an agreement which moves the patient into a safer community setting as soon as possible.