‘Full MoTs’ for A&E OAPs: New approach of ‘frailty units’ cuts stays in hospital

Giving pensioners a full health check on admission cuts stays in hospital

A NEW approach to the elderly in which pensioners undergo a “bespoke MoT” in hospital emergency wards has cut their admissions by up to a third.

Now the pioneering units, known as “frailty units”, in which patients receive physiotherapy, medications assessment, consultant visits and social care, are being considered by hospitals elsewhere.

The news comes as figures last week show a record number of vulnerable elderly patients stuck in hospital beds as discharging delays hit an all-time high.

Pensioners are given a full health check on admission, rather than a focus on a specific cause.

For example, doctors will look at the potential causes of a fall, such as a poor mix of medication, rather than just the damage caused by the fall.

A battery of other checks is also carried out in a bid to prevent future problems.

The package of care leaves them better able to live independently in safety.

Yesterday Dr David Oliver, president of the British Geriatrics Society, said: “This method could help transform the NHS. Elderly people get stuck in hospitals which is often bad for their health and not good for hospitals. Most new acute admissions are elderly patients.

 

A battery of other checks is also carried out in a bid to prevent future problems

Elderly people get stuck in hospitals which is often bad for their health and not good for hospitals

Dr David Oliver, president of the British Geriatrics Society

“If we can get them checked and safely discharged at the front door, it will be better for them and take huge pressure off the rest of the hospital, meaning more beds, more care and fewer cancelled operations.”

Research presented at the European Union Geriatric Medicine Society conference in Oslo, Norway, showed the scheme, which has already been adopted in 20 hospitals, including University Hospital of South Manchester, Salford Royal and Leicester Royal Infirmary, dramatically reduces the number of elderly people admitted and re-admitted.

The study, carried out by specialist Dr Lauren Wentworth at the South Manchester hospital, one of the first frailty units in Britain, also showed how length of hospital stay was cut.

Dr Wentworth said: “It’s no good giving an older person antibiotics or painkillers and then sending them home, as very often they end up with more problems and come back.

“The key is to put in a package of health and social care to get them as functional and independent as possible.”

The package of care leaves pensioners better able to live independently in safety

Most new acute admissions are elderly patients

Last week the Nuffield Trust released a report that showed 3.6 per cent of patients are taking up more than a third of hospital beds.

These patients are readmitted on a regular basis or spend long spells in hospital because of insufficient care home places.

Dr Mark Holland, President of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “Elderly people can often reach a tipping point when they are unable to care for themselves properly which presents to us in a number of ways, for example, by falls, incontinence or confusion.

“A bespoke package helps avoid prolonged admissions and reduces re-admissions.”