Successful unit that keeps older patients out of hospital made permanent
In less than a year, a pilot Frailty Unit at Hillingdon Hospital has been so successful it is to be made permanent.
Since November 2022, the emergency service for older adults, which runs alongside and relieves pressure on the A&E Department:
- has helped reduce average length of stay in hospital from 12 to seven days
- achieved 89% same-day discharge home
- set up direct pathways with London Ambulance Service and community partners.
The unit sees about 155 patients a month in its six bays, and is open 12 hours a day, seven days a week.
The team, led by Dr Anna Jones, a consultant geriatrician, is looking forward to welcoming new members as it expands to help even more patients.
Dr Jones said: “The whole team is eager to continue the fantastic work we have achieved so far.
“We will be having training events in the future to educate all on the frailty pathway and how we can best support each other to improve the patient journey.”
Picture: Dr Anna Jones and Sarah Gatehouse, a frailty clinical nurse specialist, chat to a patient in the Frailty Unit