£2m for social care from NHS Forth Valley will allow elderly patients to leave hospital

Last year the NHS transferred the same amount to the HSCP so that it could help get care in place for patients who were clinically able to leave hospital but did not have the support to do so.

Members heard that the pilot scheme, Shifting the Balance of Care, successfully got 32 patients out of ward A11 in Forth Valley Royal Hospital at a time when the hospital had been well over capacity.

The board heard that freeing up the ward has not only helped the hospital to cope at times when demand is highest but also means that several wards that are badly in need of refurbishment can finally be freshened up.

NHS Forth Valley’s chief executive, Professor Ross McGuffie, asked the board meeting on Tuesday for approval to fund the project for a further year as part of a wider review of urgent and unscheduled care.

He told members that there were many components included in that work, including a frailty unit and more integrated discharge arrangements and it was important to see the project in context.

The cost is currently being met using Scottish Government funding to improve urgent and unscheduled care but the hope is that after this year, a business case can be made for recurring funding that would make it ‘business as usual’.

Shifting the Balance of Care is designed to keep people out of hospital and care homes, by providing round the clock care, where needed, for up to three weeks to assess patients’ needs at home.

Members heard that around 60 per cent of people who would previously have been discharged to a care home were instead given support to return home, where they will be assessed.

Support is gradually withdrawn to an appropriate level that is tailored to each patient.

The report to the board said the proposal is “a credible and innovative approach to service delivery which supports improved outcomes and experiences for patients, staff and the wider health and care system”.

Members heard that while it has been largely welcomed by staff, there were concerns that it can increase workload intensity for some of the community teams involved.

The Health and Social Care Partnership is currently remodelling its Care at Home service to address some of the concerns that have been raised.

The success of the pilot project in Falkirk means that a similar programme will be now be introduced by Stirling and Clackmannanshire’s Health and Social Care Partnership, adopting the learning from Falkirk’s experience.

Board member Kirstin Cassells said she was very supportive of the work but added that it was vital to focus on how the work was improving the flow of patients through the hospital which would lead to improved waiting times in the emergency department.

“I think it’s really important for us to monitor that so we don’t get to a point next year where we’re having that discussion and that is perhaps missing,” she said.

Non-executive member Gordon Johnston also added his support, saying: “For, me this is the biggest step forward we’ve taken in terms of health and social care and it’s exactly what integration was supposed to be. It’s great to see we’re getting there.”