Community services play a vital role in tackling growing A&E services pressures say UK health and social care provider.
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Partnership NHS Trust called for more focus on the part community services play in keeping people out of hospital.
Speaking in response to the National Audit Office’s report into emergency admissions to hospital, chief executive Stuart Poyner said: “The role of joined up health and social care community services play and urgent care is a major element of the solution around pressures across the health system, especially A&E.
“By investing in community services now we can reduce the need for A&E services in the future and better balance the offer to local people.”
The Partnership Trust has established 27 nursing and social care teams across Staffordshire to support frail, older people and those living long term conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart failure and kidney disease.
In line with cross party policy for joined up care, the Partnership is working with local GPs across Staffordshire to identify adult service users in greatest need for health and social care services and provide personalised care to suit them. This means patients are better supported to remain healthier and independent at home – reducing the need to access hospital care.
“We recognise the value of hospital services but community services have a vital and key role to play in providing people with more proactive and pre-emptive care with acute services only accessed as last alternative,” said Poyner.
