Council opens hospital discharge suite

The council has developed a new pilot which will help free up hospital beds and give residents the chance to gain back their independence after being discharged from hospital.

The East Riding Social Care Suite will create a short-term facility for those individuals who are medically ready for discharge but are waiting for planned social care and support to begin.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council has entered into an innovative partnership arrangement with Hull University Teaching Hospitals Trust, East Riding of Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group and City Health Care Partnership to pilot a social care suite on the Castle Hill site.

The East Riding Social Care Suite will support people to regain their daily living skills and promote ongoing independence, ready for their return home.

East Riding residents accessing the service will be provided with short-term care and support and will have the opportunity to take part in a range of interactive activities with a view to taste what is available to them in the community.

Alongside this, a range of information and advice and signposting will be provided and available on how to live healthily and independently for longer.

The East Riding Social Care Suite is available and contributes towards meeting the additional demand for acute medical beds as a result of winter pressures.

John Skidmore, director for adults, health and customer services at the council, said: “We are aiming to provide engaging and interesting activities from a range of services that will enhance the emotional and physical wellbeing of users, whilst strengthening social networks in the community so that people are more confident and better connected once leaving hospital.”

Teresa Cope, Chief Operating Officer at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Having this excellent facility at Castle Hill will mean there is somewhere to care for people who no longer require the intensive support and treatment provided by our hospital and staff. We are matching the council’s funding to get the suite up and running and look forward to continued close working with the council.”

Paula South, director of quality and governance/lead nurse at East Riding Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Clinical evidence shows that people recover faster when they are in an environment where they can carry on with their activities of daily living that helps to support and increase their independence.

“This new suite will offer care focussed on re-ablement, whilst patients wait for their planned social care package to start.”

Users of the suite can expect to receive input from a range of services, including help from the staff in the voluntary sector, public health, East Riding Libraries, East Riding Leisure and the museum services.