The Hospital Avoidance Programme for people with dementia registered with a GP in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin is highlighted as best practice within the National All Age Crisis Care Pathways Report.
The programme, based on Oak Ward at The Redwoods Centre in Shrewsbury, began as a pilot scheme in March 2016 and has continued to grow and develop.
Its purpose is to provide specialist support during the weekend via telephone and/or face-to-face to dementia patients at risk of unnecessary admission to hospital while at home or in a community setting, such as nursing or residential care.
Where a patient has returned home but remains under the care of Oak Ward, the team will continue to support the patient to prevent readmission to a hospital setting.
The report is being published by the Positive Practice in Mental Health Collaborative, in conjunction with the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health.