An innovative service helping people in North Lanarkshire recover in the comfort of their own homes rather than in hospital has already seen its 2,000th patient despite only starting in early 2023.
The Home Assessment Team (HAT) supports people who are being discharged from hospital and may require an assessment of their needs to help them lead independent lives once home.
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Neil Gray MSP this week visited Wishaw’s Houldsworth Centre to meet members of the team which supports people discharged from hospital back to their own homes in a timely manner.
Operated by University Health & Social Care North Lanarkshire, the team carries out an ongoing assessment of each person’s specific needs in their home for up to two weeks with people often first seen within hours of their hospital discharge.
Made up of a range of health and social care staff, the team will agree with each patient what their goals are and what the assessment should focus on. Some people won’t need support when returning home, but may benefit from some equipment or technology to help with daily living tasks
If the person has an unpaid carer, such as a partner or another family member, the team will also discuss any help they may need to to ensure both people are supported during recovery.
Once the assessment period has been completed, the team discuss the best way to help people live independently longer term. If additional support is required, people can be referred to other services or to the voluntary sector.
Moira Rennicks from Airdrie was the 2,000th patient to be seen by the HAT team. She said: “Since going through the home assessment process, I am more confident, and I’m getting back to my previous level of fitness since being discharged from hospital. Being seen by the HAT team has made me feel important again.
“Being in my own home is better than recovering in hospital. It was far better being assessed at home so we could see how the supports would actually work in my home. It’s so helpful that staff are able to see me at home and the occupational therapist can see how equipment will complement my recovery in my home and how I would be using it.
“Having a range of equipment makes differences in ways that people can often take for granted such as now being able to make lunch, ironing or other household tasks. These things make me
feel valued at home as I can contribute to the household and take pressure off my family while being able to conserve my energy.
“I’d definitely recommend the service to anyone who is offered it as they prepare to leave hospital. All the team were excellent and they put me at ease. Home support workers Lorna, Donna and Margaret Anne; team leader Kelly Anne; and occupational therapist Jennifer have such a wealth of knowledge which I have benefitted from and they use it to work well as a team, which is a great help.”
Sharon Simpson, Health & Social Work manager, University Health & Social Care North Lanarkshire, said: “Hospital is the right place for specialised care when people are very sick, however studies show that people recover better in their own homes with the support of family and friends.
“Staying in hospital longer than necessary can harm peoples’ independence, so getting them home again to their own surroundings is important.
“By assessing each person’s needs in their own environment, our teams can work with people to assess what they’re managing well and what might be a bit more challenging. The team can aid recovery, building up of strength and how people can undertake daily tasks safely and independently.
“It’s important that we work with people and carry out the assessments in their own homes to get an accurate idea of how they cope in familiar surroundings. If we tried to do the assessments in hospital, we would be seeing an inaccurate picture as it would be an unnatural environment for them.
“The team recognise how important it is that people remain connected with people who are important in their lives and to their local communities.”
