Bluebird Care eases pressure in overcrowded hospitals

A Hampshire care provider is helping to ease the 'intense' overcrowding problem at Winchester’s hospitals by caring for people with acute illnesses in their own homes.

In 10 months, Bluebird Care’s JET (Joint Emergency Team) Service has kept nearly 350 people from being 'unnecessarily admitted' to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital and The Andover War Memorial Hospital, saving the NHS more than £600,000.

According to Norman Murphy, owner and managing director of Bluebird Care, both hospitals are “currently experiencing major issues” with admissions of elderly and vulnerable people who do not have a support network at home and are admitted with illnesses brought about by the cold weather.

He said: “We really commend the NHS West Hampshire CCG and Hampshire County Council for looking at new and innovative ways to relieve the intense pressure on the NHS. Providing care in people’s own homes has not only benefitted local hospitals, it has also been hugely beneficial to patients.

“The large increase of hospital admissions during the winter months has meant it’s been crucial to keep as many free beds as possible and Bluebird Care take great pride in helping the NHS in such a valuable way.

“To date, the Bluebird Care JET service has successfully kept more than 350 people out of hospital in Alresford, Winchester, Eastleigh and Andover by preventing unnecessary hospital admissions which vitally frees up beds and hospital staff.”

GPs, district nurses and community care teams refer their patients with acute illnesses to the Bluebird Care's joint emergency team (JET), who assess the patient within a few hours and immediately put in place emergency care in their own home.

The service currently works with seven GP surgeries across Winchester and Eastleigh. It is hoped the Bluebird Care JET Service will become a full, ongoing service and beyond a winter pressures initiative.

Philip Heiden, director at Mid-Hampshire Healthcare which represents GPs in the county, said: “It has long been known that with correct community social care support, thousands of people that are unnecessarily admitted to hospital can be cared for just as well, if not better, in their own homes and Bluebird Care were the perfect partner to deliver this.”

click here for more details or to contact Bluebird Care