Firwood House and St Anthony’s Court, two residential services in Eastbourne, will in future place a greater focus on short-term rehabilitation care services which reduce unnecessary hospital admissions.
This decision by the Council’s Cabinet (on 29 July 2008) follows a review of both homes that started in February.
A typical example might be the elderly widower who is left badly bruised after a fall. Following medical attention, specialist staff at the Council’s rehabilitation services can work with him, to improve his mobility, ready to return home, safely. In this way, the man receives expert assistance catered to his needs, without taking up a hospital bed. This is an effective way for the Primary Care Trust and the County Council to work together which provides more appropriate care within existing resources.
Local Eastbourne GP, Dr Simon Eyre, said:
“Everyone knows the pressure there is on hospital beds. We’ve got to keep them free for those people that have a real clinical need. That’s why the Council’s decision to provide more specialist rehabilitation services is really good news. It’s a very sensible way for us to work together and combine our resources.”
East Sussex County Council is planning to expand its rehabilitation services with the opening of a new specialist centre (with 30+ beds), at Grangemead, Hailsham. Once this opens – due 2010/11 – the current services at St Anthony’s will relocate to this site. Residents will benefit from a state-of-the-art care service, with each room having en-suite facilities.
In the meantime, St Anthony’s Court will pilot an enhanced ‘transitional care’ service – a longer-term rehabilitation service for people that can’t be expected to return home after a couple of weeks. (For example, this might include someone recovering from a stroke, who no longer needed hospital treatment, but wasn’t yet fit enough to live independently at home.) To do this, the Council will buy in the 10-bed respite service which currently makes up part of the overall services at St Anthony’s Court, from the private sector. Not only will this be more cost-effective, but it will enable the Council to focus on providing those specialist services, which are not available elsewhere.
Councillor Bill Bentley, Lead Member for Adult Social Care, said:
“It sounds obvious, but if you don’t need medical support, you shouldn’t be in a hospital. That’s why we need good alternatives, like these services which give specialist support to get people physically fit and able to cope with life again. We’re already working well with the Primary Care Trusts, and the decisions taken by the Council today, will improve the partnership.“
Notes to editors
Firwood House is a 21/22-bed facility. St Anthony’s Court is a 28-bed facility. Although St Anthony’s Court meets current national requirements for a build of its age, it does not offer en-suite facilities to residents. This will be the expected standard in the future.
The review of both Firwood House and St Anthony’s Court started in February 2008. As part of this process, the opinions of people that use the services, as well as the staff were canvassed, and fed back into the decision-making process.
Both Firwood House and St Anthony’s Court will continue to offer ‘step down’ care services, for people who have been in hospital and want to return home.
Dr Simon Eyre is the chair of the East Sussex Downs and Weald Primary Care Trust Professional Executive Committee and a partner at the Lighthouse Medical Practice in Langney, Eastbourne.
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