A NEW programme that aims to keep patients out of hospital by providing high-quality care in their own home is set to expand.

The Hospital at Home pilot has so far created the equivalent of 1,200 extra bed day capacity since it was launched by Glasgow City Health and Social Care partnership 12 months ago.

Due to its success, the initial pilot will be rolled out to other areas within the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area, which covers Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire.

Eligible patients are identified either upon presenting at A&E - thus avoiding admission - or inpatients might be identified as candidates, or patients can be referred by their GP.

Patients need to be over the age of 65 to be suitable for the service.
Those who are treated within Hospital at Home will have access to hospital-level diagnostics, with care delivered by a team of nurses, GPs, pharmacists, occupational therapists and consultant geriatricians.

Hospital at Home patients receive an average of 10 visits each during their period within the service, with the average length of treatment being around five days.

Dr Scott Davidson, deputy medical director for acute services within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “Creating additional bed capacity is a key challenge facing the health service, so we welcome initiatives such as Hospital at Home, where we see the benefits as two-fold. 

“Older patients avoid the risks associated with hospital admissions such as a decline in physical ability and hospital infections but receive the same high-quality treatment at home. 

“Operationally, we can use the additional bed space up for other patients, which is extremely important just now as we see higher demand on bed capacity than ever before.”