'Hospital discharge scheme put me on my own two feet'

Thousands of patients have been able to leave hospital more quickly thanks to a new service to free up beds occupied by people who are ready to go home.

The Home First model run by Kent Community NHS Trust (KCT) has helped more than 2,250 patients return home with support since it began earlier this year.

Bob and Irene Hills, from Paddock Wood, both spent time in hospital this summer and said the support they received had allowed them to return home quickly.

Irene said the support "put me on my own two feet".

She believes the service gave her confidence to come home.

"They sent someone in, they washed me and they dressed me and made sure that I walked okay," she said.

For him, Bob said: "Otherwise, really and truly it was going into a care home."

Across England there are typically about 15,000 patients each day occupying an acute hospital bed despite being deemed medically fit for discharge, but who need some extra support, care package or care home placement, according to NHS England.

Sophie Williams, head of service for Home First, said it was "all about getting those patients that are no longer needing to be in the acute hospital and to get them home".

NHS England figures show the South East is currently one of the most challenged regions in England for hospital discharge, with the highest number of delayed bed days nationally.

Delayed discharge, where patients are described by the NHS as having "no criteria to reside", affects the availability of space for incoming patients, which leads to delays in A&E departments and to ambulance handovers.

It has been shown to significantly impact health outcomes including an increased risk of infections, falls, physical deterioration and loss of independence, according to the Royal College of Physicians.

Home First is a joint NHS and Kent County Council service that visits people at home on the day they leave hospital and again after 72 hours, helping them settle, assessing their needs and putting support in place.

Williams said the service worked closely with hospitals.

"We have regular conversations throughout the day, throughout the week, seven days a week to support that flow and support those patients that have no criteria to reside," she said.

The model was being "continually" looked at to see if it could be refined or improved, and to look for "other gaps or blockages within the system", Williams said.

She added: "The aim is that we all work together, one NHS, one pathway for the patient."

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