‘Hospital 2 Home’ initiative welcomed
- Friday, 26 October 2012
A new resource pack to encourage and support best practice to enable older patients to return home from hospital safely has today been launched by Department of Health Minister, Norman Lamb.
The Hospital 2 Home pack supported by the Department of Health (DH) and Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) provides essential information for people working in health, housing, social care and the voluntary sector.
It will help them to support older patients who are being discharged to their own homes and reduce the risk of readmission.
Speaking at the National Children and Adult Services conference, Health Minister Norman Lamb praised the pack for being an excellent example of integration in action, one of the aims of the social care reforms announced earlier in the year.
Mark Prisk, Housing Minister, also said “All too often, patients can find getting the help they need daunting and confusing as they try to navigate their way through a range of different services. So I am pleased to welcome the launch of this practical initiative, which will ensure that any older patient leaving hospital will get not only medical advice, but will also be pointed to the range of social care and housing help that they may need as they continue their recovery."
The pack was produced by a broad coalition of organisations, who will promote the use of the ‘Hospital 2 Home’ resources amongst their members.
"Any delay in being able to leave hospital after treatment is distressing for the patient and costly to the NHS", said Domini Gunn-Peim of the Chartered Institute of Housing and Chair of the task group.
" 'Hospital 2 Home' is a sector led initiative involving a spectrum of professional bodiesfrom across health, social care, housing and the voluntary sector, supported by DH and DCLG, which will help to improve older people's experience of hospital discharge".
The joint initiative was prompted by a recommendation made by the All Party Parliamentary Group (Housing & Care) Inquiry into ‘Living Well at Home’ in 2011.
Care & Repair England, initiated the joint task group which has overseen the production. T
Their CEO, Sue Adams, said, "Enabling older patients to return to a home that is safe, warm and adapted to their needs, alongside help with day to day living if needed, is critical to effective discharge. By working together we can improve older patients' experience - the pack aims to support a joint approach".
