About the service

The service aims to help patients aged 65 and over to continue living independently. The district nurse-led team of district nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and care assistants work together to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions.

It has been developed and provided in partnership by Wokingham Borough Council Community Care Services, Wokingham Primary Care, West Berkshire Primary Care Service NHS Trust, and Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals NHS Trust.

How does it operate?

Referrals of medically stable patients can be made by GPs, district nurses and senior members of Accident and Emergency staff (via the Priority Enhanced Care Officer) between the hours of 8.30am and 10pm.

• The district nurse will carry out an assessment of need, and access the professionals required to meet those needs
• Support will be provided for up to 6 weeks; during that time on-going assessment will be carried out to review progress
• After 4 weeks the district nurse will carry out an assessment of health and social care needs and will liaise with appropriate agencies to provide support beyond 6 weeks if required

• A referral to Social Services will mean a financial assessment, which may result in the patient having to meet costs of social care

Eligibility criteria

• Patients aged 65 years and over
• Patients who are medically stable
• Patients registered with GPs in the Wokingham PCG area

Examples of when the service can be accessed include:

• When a carer is unwell and unable to supply support
• People with mobility difficulties
• People with fractures
• People with respiratory problems

Funding and review

The Rapid Response Scheme has been funded through the Wokinhgam Partnership Grant.

An ongoing evaluation of the service is carried out looking particularly at the impact on the number of hospital bed days saved. As part of the evaluation of the service referring agencies are asked to identify patients who do not meet the above criteria, but who may have benefited from the scheme.