A NEW rehabilitation unit for elderly patients who have been discharged from hospital has opened at a south Belfast care home.
The new service at the Four Seasons’ Windsor Care Home and Intermediate Care Centre became fully operational last month.
Since then, there have been 15 admissions with no re-admissions to hospital. This comes at a time when hospitals are stretched to the limit capacity-wise because of winter pressure and Trusts are struggling to meet nurse staffing levels.
The 39-bedroom home at Osborne Park had seen a reduced number of residents in the frail elderly category over recent months, which allowed for internal reconfiguration.
This in turn created the capacity to develop the new unit of 15 early discharge assessment beds.
The refurbishment moved away from a traditional nursing home style to become brighter and more vibrant with a new modern and contemporary entrance/foyer.
Working in partnership with BHSCT the rehabilitation care delivery is supported by a full multi-disciplinary team of care managers, social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and rehab assistants.
In addition, medical cover is supplied by a daily GP visit and consultant screening at the point of hospital referral.
Carol Cousins, managing director of Windsor Care Home and Intermediate Care Centre, said all efforts were being made to provide the best possible care and rehabilitation for patients and their families.
“While local hospitals are buckling under the strain of winter illnesses and stretched to full capacity, we can ease some of the pressure with our new Discharge to Assess beds,” she said.
“The fact there have been no re-admissions to hospital following a short stay at Windsor Care Home and Intermediate Care Centre is testament to the excellent care we are offering here.
“Not only do we have a first class multi-disciplinary team from Belfast Trust in reaching to the service, but we also carry out a Key Performance Indicator Review on a daily basis which includes expected dates of discharge, the reasons for any delayed discharge, re-admission rates to hospital and the success of the rehabilitation for the person."
