Organisation Details

The team is a multi-agency service who recognise that patients wish to remain at home or as close to home as possible, rather than be admitted to hospital if at all possible. The team assess individual patient needs while in the acute setting and organise appropriate support whether in the home or in an alternative community environment with appropriate services and equipment.

Patients are referred via the emergency care areas and the Ambulance Trust (Accident and Emergency, Acute Medical Unit, Acute Emergency Care, Same Day Emergency Care Unit, Surgical Assessment Unit, Frailty & outpatient clinics) for additional assessment in order to assist hospital discharge in a safe and timely manner: or, whilst in the emergency areas, patients / relatives can ask for additional functional assessments by the team. The team are also responsible for the QEH Emergency Falls Pathway, which offers assessment, follow up and referral to appropriate teams within the community falls service for those over 65 years of age who have attended the hospital following a fall.

Should an assessment be required after discharge this can be arranged in collaboration with community teams. Even though this service is primarily for those in West Norfolk, patients from outside these areas will still be assessed and be able to access relevant services in their area.

Interpretation and translation services can be arranged by staff, for users of this service.