A pilot project at Queen Mary’s Hospital, Roehampton is speeding up discharge from hospital, while ensuring that people returning home see the friendly faces of therapists who got to know them on the ward.
The NHS South West London-funded project is for patients on the Mary Seacole Ward. It was developed following engagement with patients, their families and carers, which revealed that people wanted better continuity of care from hospital to home.
We all felt very reassured that a ward therapist, who knew our father, was visiting him at home.”
According to Martha* whose father was admitted to the ward, the pilot helped reduce the worries of a hospital stay. She said: “We all felt very reassured that a ward therapist, who knew our father, was visiting him at home. We knew who to contact if we needed any extra support.”
The innovation fund pilot was designed to give people faster and more intensive rehabilitation on the ward, to improve their experience and their recovery.
Martin Morgan, who was involved in developing the project, explained: “The pilot was designed to improve people’s experiences, from arrival on the ward through to their recovery at home. People told us they would like to be cared for by the same ward-based therapists at home, ensuring the whole process is more comfortable and less likely to cause anxiety. They also said they wanted to go home as soon as possible and complete their therapy.”
Initial feedback from the first 21 patients has been positive – the average length of a hospital stay has reduced from 33 to 20 days. People also reported improvements in regaining mobility and being able to look after themselves and said they felt motivated to do all the exercises needed to return home sooner.
It’s been exciting making a real difference to each person’s recovery and working with the voluntary sector too.”
Occupational therapist Adele Gilbert said: “It’s been great caring for the patients from the ward to their home environment and seeing their progress. It’s been exciting making a real difference to each person’s recovery and working with the voluntary sector too.”
As pressures on the health and care system are growing, the local NHS and partners are working together to improve care and support so people can be discharged from hospital as soon as they are well.
To understand people’s experiences of hospital discharge and rehabilitation, NHS South West London commissioned voluntary groups to carry out the research with 150 residents. Wandsworth Carers Centre, Merton Vision, Age UK Merton and care organisation Mushkil Aasaan asked people about their views and experiences.
*Not her real name