Haringey Council partnership to help free up NHS beds
23 Jun 2020
Martin D’Mello, our Group Director of Health Care and Support, tells how we’re providing temporary accommodation for hospital leavers
Like everyone, One Housing is having to adapt how we work while still delivering services and at the same time keeping both our residents and staff safe. This has been particularly important at our assisted living schemes and residential, nursing and dementia care homes. However, as an organisation with a social conscience, there are also opportunities for us to play a vital role to help the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic as well.
We have been working hand in hand for years with local authorities and the NHS across London to deliver a range of services. Discussions have been taking place to relieve pressure on hospital beds and potentially free up whole wards. We are looking at providing spare wings and floors in our schemes and homes and the delivery of housing and ancillary services including a cleaning and catering/meal offer.
This would be for people who are leaving hospital and are well enough to be discharged, but not well enough to go home. Placements would typically last four to six weeks, with local authorities providing outside care for those new residents. This would also involve reablement and assessment to enable customers to move home or move into longer term extra care or care homes. It is only right that we step up to help these vulnerable people.
Ten emergency units
We have been having detailed discussions with many councils across London to offer this service and these are ongoing. The good news is that we are now working with the London Borough of Haringey to provide accommodation for those leaving hospital. We have agreed the roll forward of the 10-unit reablement capacity at Protheroe House for utilisation by Haringey CCG as emergency discharge provision.
Of course, the services we’re currently delivering and the level of care that our current customers receive will not change. But more importantly, their health and safety are paramount to us. With this initiative, both One Housing and the outside care organisations will be following all the appropriate Government and Care Quality Commission strict guidance. We would not be doing this otherwise.
We also know that this is a concerning time both for our customers and their families as they cannot see each other. We want to reassure their loved ones that we are doing everything we can to make sure that they are safe while still providing a high-quality service and enjoyable environment.
We know the country is united behind our NHS and we are pleased to be able to provide vital accommodation and support. Our unused units being filled will ensure that there is capacity for those that need it most in our local hospitals. With this careful management, we continue to play a vital role in the communities that we serve.