Good Hope Hospital – in partnership with Healthcare at Home Ltd – is launching its first recovery at home (R@H) service this week; enabling some patients to recover in the comfort of their own home rather than in hospital.

A patient being cared for in the comfort of their own home by a Good Hope R@H service team member.

The service, available initially for elderly and trauma and orthopaedic (T&O) patients, enables some patients to leave hospital as soon as they are clinically stable to complete the remainder of their hospital care in their home environment. Patients are only eligible for the service if clinicians are confident it is safe and all the necessary support is in place to do so; with experienced healthcare professionals then ensuring patients receive care and rehabilitation tailored to their own needs.

R@H works to complement local health and social care and community providers by working together to support the safe movement of patients out of the acute hospital setting. Additionally, the service reduces the length of the patient’s stay in hospital, relieving the pressure on the wards and freeing up vital ward beds.

Commenting on the initiative, Ruth Poole, Healthcare at Home’s group commercial director, said: “By working with existing community and social care providers, the team will provide a seamless transition for patients from the acute hospital setting back to their place of residence, supported by a 24/7 Care Bureau which offers clinical support for patients, carers and clinicians. We look forward to building a successful partnership with all the staff and patients at Good Hope, as well as the local community teams”.

Sue Moore, managing director of Good Hope said, “Each patient using the R@H service will remain under the care of the hospital consultant whilst using the service. We are pleased to be able to offer this care option to our patients – research to date shows that patients recover better in the comfort of their own home. It also makes it easier for friends and family to visit.

“The resource savings are far outweighed by the potential reduction of risk to patients while in the acute setting. We have not quantified, but expect to see a reduction in falls, infection and medication errors as a result of the service’s introduction. We also foresee that patients may access social care at a later stage as a result of being supported in their own home environment – all in all it’s a win win for patients and the Hospital”.