NHS Benchmarking Network April 2015
- Report of the first phase of a national benchmarking project looking at older people in acute settings involving 47 trusts and health boards.
- Findings of the project across the four areas of the pathway : admission avoidance in A&E, assessment units, inpatient care and supported discharge. Within each area of the pathway the service models, activity, workforce and finance data is explored.
- A&E
- 24% of participating Trusts / LHBs have a dedicated geriatric team located in the A&E department. 85% report therapists are available in A&E to assist with admission avoidance of older people. 62% of organisations have rapid access to social workers in A&E, and 44% report that in-reach is provided by the Hospital Discharge Team.
- Assessment units
- 30% of Trusts/LHBs have a frailty unit, with 42% using a recognised frailty tool within the frailty unit. 90% of frailty units use Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment, and 77% have a dedicated geriatric team located in the frailty unit.
- Inpatient care
- The average number of elderly care beds per Trust / LHB is 106 beds. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment is delivered on 87% of elderly care wards, and 23% of other speciality wards. All inpatient wards have regular ward and board rounds. A social worker or supported discharge co-ordinator forms part of the MDT on elderly care wards in 86% of Trusts / LHBs.
- Discharge process
- There is a documented supported discharge protocol consistently applied across all wards in 87% of Trusts / LHBs. 23% of organisations have an integrated discharge team and, where supported discharges do not go through the IDT, they are dealt with directly by ward staff. All organisations reported that inpatient wards have dedicated ward discharge co-ordinators. 85% of Trusts / LHBs operate Early Supported Discharge schemes, with 37% having access to dedicated Pharmacy advice for supported discharges. The average length of time for a continuing healthcare assessment to take place is 12 days.
