New Assessment Unit at UHNM to help prevent unnecessary hospital admissions in frail and elderly patients

A new service at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) aimed at preventing frail and older patients being admitted into hospital has opened at County Hospital, Stafford.

The Frailty Assessment Unit (FAU) will treat patients aged over 75 who attend County Hospital’s Emergency Department to ensure they receive appropriate and timely care so they can return home at the earliest opportunity.

It’s hoped the Unit, which opened earlier this month following a successful trial in August, will save UHNM around five inpatient admissions a day.

Dr Alice Holt, Emergency Medical Consultant at UHNM said: "Before the opening of the new Unit, patients would typically be admitted to County’s Acute Medical Ward (AMU) or the Elderly Care Ward. We now aim to identify and facilitate the care of suitable elderly patients directly from the Emergency Department.

“By recognising and supporting these patients early in their journey at County Hospital, we can conduct holistic, person-focused assessments. This approach helps to prevent unnecessary investigations and hospital deconditioning. We promote a 'get up and stay up' mindset, encouraging early mobilisation, whilst ensuring patients maintain diet and fluid intake during their stay.”

The consultant-led service, which will run weekdays until the end of March 2025, is expected to treat between 10 to 14 patients a day, operating from within County Hospital’s Medical Receiving Unit (MRU).

UHNM’s team of Emergency Medical Consultants, Advanced Care Practitioners (ACPs), Therapists and Staff Nurses will work in partnership with social care colleagues to ensure patients are discharged back to their homes or places of residents as quickly as possible.  

Tommy Murphy, Director of Operations for Medicine and Urgent Care at UHNM, said: “We want to avoid frail and elderly patients from being admitted unnecessarily to hospital this winter.  It is vital that we help them to remain in their home environments, and in their communities, where they feel happiest.  This innovative approach, which uses the principles of same day emergency care and frailty assessment in urgent and emergency care, will improve the provision of both timely patient care and excellence in patient experience by providing access to the most appropriate services for their needs.”

Staff from the Unit will also link in with UHNM’s ‘Virtual Wards’ project, providing acute care at home safely and conveniently rather than being in hospital.