A one-stop service for frail elderly patients in Mid Cheshire

Mid Cheshire Hospitals' Frail Elderly Assessment Unit

After identifying that too many frail elderly patients were spending longer than they needed to in A&E after a fall, in April 2023, Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust opened a new Frail Elderly Assessment Unit (FEAU).

The Trust now reviews patients first thing each day to identify anyone suitable to be moved into the Frail Elderly Assessment Unit, where they get reviewed by a multi-disciplinary team of specialists who proactively look for ways to avoid admissions and support early discharge for these vulnerable patients.

The service effectively provided a one-stop service for frail elderly patients, supported by a team that comprises of a dedicated prescribing pharmacist, discharge nurse, and some physio and occupational therapy support staff.

Since first launching last spring, the service has already successfully supported earlier discharge for over 500 patients - saving over 2,500 bed days thus far.

It has also significantly improved the overall experience of being in hospital for those falls patients, as well as improving their health outcomes through a shortened length of hospital stay.

The clearly defined pathways and onward discharge through a virtual ward approach, ensuring close health and care system partnership working, as well as the use of ‘hot clinics’, have all been key to the success of this model of care.