Hospital discharge project recognised for its important role in freeing up hospital beds

A charity’s hospital discharge project has been recognised for its valuable contribution in freeing up hospital beds and easing NHS pressures.

The Hospital to a Healthier Home project supports over 400 patients each year, across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot, and has now been awarded another year of funding from Swansea Bay University Health Board.

Run by the charity Care & Repair Cymru, the project helps older people to return home from hospital quicker and safer by carrying out simple home repairs and adaptations.

Project Manager, Faye Patton, said: “We are delighted to have received local funding for this service. This means our specialist Hospital to a Healthier Home caseworkers can continue their excellent work making sure older people can leave hospital safely and speedily into homes that are ready for their continued recovery.

“The service has grown significantly in the last few years, especially throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, when we expanded the service with additional caseworkers and embedded the service in new hospitals. We are very pleased that Health Boards recognise the positive impact the service has in helping them take a Home First approach.”

Operating out of Neath Port Talbot Hospital, Morriston Hospital, Gorseinon Hospital and Singleton Hospital, it is estimated that the project saved over 1,700 hospital bed days last year.  Additionally, the project is present in four more Health Boards across Wales and has saved a combined 25,000 bed days.

Central to the success of Hospital to a Healthier Home is its Healthy Home Checks. These are carried out for each patient’s home prior to discharge and can highlight any potential issues the patient might encounter once home. For example, an electrical socket may need to be fitted so that medical equipment can be installed, or handrails may be needed along steps to ensure safety during the persons recovery.

The project helps older people like Mrs Davies, who had a bad fall and was hospitalised. She had stitches and returned home feeling very shaken up. The Hospital to a Healthier Home Caseworker contacted Mrs Davies to discuss her needs, listen to her concerns and ensure that her return home was as safe as it could be. She worked with Mrs Davies to ensure that a return to hospital through another fall would be avoided. A Healthy Home Check was completed, and funding was secured to supply a shower seat and install grab rails in the shower and by the toilet, and handrail for the stairs.

Carol Williams, Hospital to a Healthier Home Caseworker, said: “In my role I act as a link between patients and their families, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and discharge liaison staff within the hospitals, to support patients with a safe and timely discharge to their homes. I support my clients with any needs they may have to keep them safe comfortable and secure and warm in their homes. 

“My clients, their families, and the hospital staff are just so appreciative to have a point of contact and are often so surprised as to the support we give our clients. I often find that when I do my home visit, after supporting with works to get a patient home, they have a big smile on their face and are so pleased to be home. Their smiles are infectious, and I often leave their home with as broad a smile on my face as they have.”

Hospital to a Healthier Home Caseworkers also support patients in claiming the benefits that they are entitled to. Last year, the project saw over 400 successful benefit claims, totalling an increase of £1.7m of additional annual income for patients.

Using the success of the Hospital to Healthier Home project, Care & Repair Cymru were able to give evidence for the Senedd consultation into Hospital discharge and its impact on patient flow through hospitals.

Chris Jones, Care & Repair Cymru Chief Officer, shared that through the Covid-19 pandemic the project didn’t stop but instead experienced greater demand. “In the early stages there was a big push, rightly, to empty hospitals and create bed spaces. So, our Hospital to a Healthier Home service got really busy, albeit our caseworkers were remote [working]. What we’ve seen over a couple of years is that demand has increased.”